Melinda French Gates and MacKenzie Scott share several striking similarities. Both are prominent figures in philanthropy, both had exceedingly wealthy ex-husbands, and both emerged from the tech world. They are also authors and mothers of multiple children. Yet, one difference stands out: their distinct approaches to giving. While Melinda has spent 25 years methodically making the world a better place, donating an impressive $77 billion to various causes (a figure three times the U.S. President’s 2025 NASA budget request of $25.4 billion), MacKenzie has achieved nearly comparable recognition in just a fraction of that time.
The former wife of centibillionaire Bill Gates, worth $30 billion, has been a towering figure in philanthropy, maintaining her influence even without Bill by her side. Melinda’s unwavering commitment to creating meaningful change continues to shine brightly. “If you are successful, it is because somewhere, sometime, someone gave you a lift or an idea that started you in the right direction,” Melinda French Gates once said.
Through her efforts with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, founded in 2000, she has tackled global health, education, and poverty alleviation. Now 60, Melinda has expanded her focus to Pivotal Ventures, an independent initiative she founded in 2015 to address pressing societal issues. Among her notable commitments is a $1 billion pledge over two years to champion women’s rights and support families, including safeguarding reproductive rights in the U.S. For Melinda, giving transcends wealth, it’s about making a difference.
MacKenzie Scott, a megadonor of comparable influence, began her philanthropic journey more recently. Following her 2019 divorce from Jeff Bezos, Scott worth $29 billion, pledged to donate the majority of her wealth, launching Yield Giving in 2022 to amplify her efforts. In just two short years, she has donated approximately $17.2 billion to a wide range of causes. Despite her shorter timeline, MacKenzie’s average annual contributions surpass Melinda’s by about 17%. If Scott continues donating at a rate of $3.6 billion annually, she will have contributed at least $90 billion in 25 years, $13 billion more than Melinda’s current total.
Unlike Scott, whose charitable resources stemmed largely from her divorce settlement (she received 25% of her and Bezos’ shared Amazon stock, valued at $38 billion at the time), Melinda’s philanthropic spirit was kindled long before billion-dollar donations came into play. In a heartfelt social media video, Melinda recounted how her parents instilled in her the value of giving back. From assisting teachers at local public schools to volunteering at the Dallas County Hospital and Courthouse, her early exposure to selfless acts laid the foundation for her lifelong commitment to philanthropy.
While Melinda French Gates exemplifies sustained, strategic giving over decades, MacKenzie Scott demonstrates the transformative impact of accelerated contributions. Despite their differing styles and timelines, both women are reshaping the world with their immense generosity. Together, they are proof that transformative acts of giving can create a brighter future, one impactful step at a time.
