AMERICA'S MOST GENEROUS PEOPLE

No one has ever given away more money as fast as Mackenzie Scott. The ex-wife of Jeff Bezos was the nation's top philanthropist in 2025 and ranks third behind Warren Buffett and Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates in terms of lifetime giving.

- PHOEBE LIU AND MATT DUROT

MacKenzie Scott; Melinda French Gates; Cari Tuna

Amid a furious political backlash around diversity, equity and inclusion, MacKenzie Scott has stepped up for her principles, donating at least $760 million to 18 historically Black colleges and universities over three months late last year. As she has done since her 2019 divorce from Jeff Bezos, Scott gave the money without fanfare and with few strings attached. The biggest gift was $80 million to Howard University, $17 million of which was directed to the medical school. The rest Howard can spend as it wants. “Unrestricted funds of this size are beyond the ordinary,” a Howard spokesperson tells Forbes, noting that the school found out about the grant only when someone from Scott’s Yield Giving emailed the university.