Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon.com Inc. and the fourth-richest person in the world, said he plans to give away the bulk of his fortune, which stands at $124 billion (R2 trillion) according to Bloomberg calculations, during his lifetime.
In an interview with CNN, Bezos said he would devote the bulk of his wealth to fighting climate change and supporting people who can unify humanity in the face of deep social and political divisions, according to the news organization.
Bezos, 58, has committed billions of dollars to charity, but the interview marks the first time he has said he would do it during his lifetime. Critics have chided Bezos for not signing the Giving Pledge, a promise by many of the world’s richest people to donate the majority of their wealth to charitable causes.
His ex-wife MacKenzie Scott has sent more than $12 billion to nonprofits since the two split in 2019. Bezos has lost billions of his fortune as Amazon stock has tumbled amid a broader tech rout this year.