Jeff Benzos and MacKenzie finalize divorce; Jeff retains voting power after divorce

Jeff Benzos
Jeff Benzos and MacKenzie finalize divorce; Jeff retains voting power after divorce

Jeff Benzos and Mackenzie announced their divorce finalization on twitter in separate posts, dissolving 25 years of marriage.

Married in the early 90’s

Jeff Benzos and MacKenzie got married in the early 90’s while working at the D.E Shaw, a New York based hedge fund. Jeff quit his job and took off for a road trip to Seattle, where ex-wife did the driving, and Jeff came out with Amazon’s business plan. Amazon was soon operating in a small garage. It has grown way beyond, producing movies, running grocery chains, etc. It is still expanding and plans to build the second headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. MacKenzie Bezos played a significant role in laying Amazon’s roots.

Both Partners, parents of 4 children, opened up positively on social media. Jeff, speaking of his ex-wife tweeted, “She has been an extraordinary partner, ally, and mother. I’m grateful for her support and for her kindness in this process and am very much looking forward to our new relationship as friends and co-parents.”

MacKenzie expressed her gratitude toward Jeff and said that she is happy to give voting control of her Amazon shares and interests in Washington Posts and Blue origin to Jeff, in order to support his contributions for these great companies. Talking about her future plans, she adds, “Excited about my own plans. Grateful for the past as I look forward to what comes next”. Though she did not reveal what her future plans are.

After divorce

Once the divorce is completed, which is expected to be in 90 days, MacKenzie will be among 30 richest people retaining 25% of the couple’s stock and 4% of the Amazon stock. Jeff Bezos will be the world’s richest person with 12% stake in the company valued at $115 billion, over $10 billion more than Bill Gates; along with keeping voting control over MacKenzie’s shares.

According to the reports by both The Wall Street Journal and The daily beast, it was Michael Sanchez, brother to Lauren and a longtime news source for the Enquirer who leaked the private texts to the publication. Although he denies the accusations. Early in January, the Enquirer threatened to post embarrassing photos and text conversations exchanged by Benzos and former television anchor Lauren Sanchez, with whom he is reported to be in a romantic relationship.

Another report says that Galvin De Becker, and advisor to Benzos mentioned in a story written for the Daily Beast that he believes that got “access to Benzos’s phone” and gained private information after they were upset with the Post’s coverage of the slaying of the writer and Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi. Soon after the announcement, Amazon’s stock was down 0.4% Thursday and closed down 0.1%. No comments were made by Amazon representatives in this matter. There was a lot of uncertainty into the fate of Amazon. However, as it turns out Jeff Benzos will acquire the voting power as he had before, it should avoid the chaos.

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