Jackie Bezos dies at 78: What to know about her cause of death
Jackie Bezos and her son, Jeff Bezos. Credit : Todd Williamson/Getty for Amazon Studios
Jacklyn “Jackie” Bezos, beloved mother of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has passed away at age 78 after a long and courageous battle with Lewy body dementia. Her peaceful passing at home in Miami, surrounded by loved ones, closes the chapter on a life defined by resilience, warmth, and unwavering devotion.
Jackie Bezos died on August 14, 2025, at her Miami residence. Her family, including her husband Mike, children Jeff, Christina, and Mark, grandchildren, and a great-grandchild, were at her side in her final hours.
The Battle with Lewy Body Dementia
Diagnosed in 2020, Jackie spent the past five years facing the relentless progression of Lewy body dementia (LBD), a complex neurological disorder affecting cognition, movement, behavior, and sleep. Often underrecognized, LBD is the second most common form of dementia after Alzheimer’s disease.
Lewy Body Dementia involves abnormal protein deposits, called Lewy bodies, that accumulate in brain cells. This disrupts neural communication, causing symptoms that meld aspects of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Key symptoms include visual hallucinations, muscle rigidity, fluctuating attention, REM sleep behavior disorder, and autonomic issues like blood-pressure instability.
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Tribute from a Grateful Son
Jeff Bezos paid tribute via Instagram, writing:
“After a long fight with Lewy Body Dementia, she passed away today, surrounded by so many of us who loved her… I know she felt our love in those final moments. We were all so lucky to be in her life. I hold her safe in my heart forever.”
He reflected deeply on her remarkable life, recalling how she became a mother at 17 and embraced every role with “ferocity, compassion, and dedication.”
A Life of Nurturing, Learning & Philanthropy
Jackie’s legacy extended far beyond motherhood. She co-founded the Bezos Family Foundation in 2000, championing early childhood education through programs like Vroom and the Bezos Scholars Program. She also supported major healthcare initiatives, including a transformative immunotherapy donation to Seattle’s Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center.
Her life story was marked by determination, going back to school in her mid-40s to earn a psychology degree, and devotion to nurturing both family and community.
A Legacy Rooted in Love and Leadership
Raised by a young single mother, Jeff shared how Jackie balanced school and work while raising him with fierce love. Later, she and Mike Bezos made the pivotal early investment of roughly $245,000 in Amazon in 1995, helping build the foundation of an enormous global enterprise.
Jackie Bezos’s passing is not just the end of a life, it’s the culmination of a powerful story of love, resilience, and service. Her journey through LBD highlights the human impact of dementia, underscoring the need for awareness and compassion. As family and friends remember her, her legacy lives on, through cherished memories, philanthropic efforts, and the countless lives she inspired.
