MacKenzie Scott faced criticism from Elon Musk and Katie Miller over her $26 billion philanthropy: Jeff Bezos’ ex-wife drew backlash over donations to 'progressive causes'

MacKenzie Scott’s charitable giving is once again at the center of a public debate after Katie Miller criticized how the billionaire philanthropist has distributed her fortune. Miller, a podcaster and former adviser to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), took aim at Scott in a post on X in June 2026, claiming that billions of dollars from the billionaire have gone largely toward progressive causes.

Her comments came shortly after Elon Musk, world's richest man, also appeared to criticize Scott’s philanthropy, adding another high-profile voice to the discussion surrounding the former wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

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Katie Miller targets MacKenzie Scott’s philanthropy

Miller argued that Scott’s charitable donations have disproportionately supported organizations associated with progressive social causes. In her post, Miller wrote: “MacKenzie Scott has given away $26 billion — almost entirely to progressive groups that seek to dismantle the very way of life that built her fortune:

She then listed donations she attributed to Scott, including money directed toward Planned Parenthood, The Trevor Project, racial equity education, racial justice groups, LGBTQ organizations, gender equity, climate justice and immigration-related causes. Miller’s criticism has put renewed attention on Scott’s giving strategy and the organizations that have received billions from her fortune.

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Elon Musk also weighs in

Musk has previously expressed criticism of Scott’s philanthropy. More recently, he responded “Sadly yes” to a post claiming that Scott was “spending it making the world a worse place.”

Musk had also sparked controversy in 2024 with a post that appeared to reference Scott without naming her directly. “Super rich ex-wives who hate their former spouse should be listed among 'Reasons that Western Civilization died,”

The post came amid discussions about Scott’s donations to organizations working on issues involving race, gender, climate and other social causes. Musk later deleted the post.

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MacKenzie Scott has donated more than $26 billion

Scott’s enormous charitable contributions have made her one of the most prominent philanthropists in the US. Through her philanthropic organization, Yield Giving, she has distributed more than $26 billion since 2020. Her donations have reached thousands of nonprofit organizations across the country.

Her giving covers a broad range of areas, including education, healthcare, housing, economic opportunity, community development and racial equity.

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According to data reported by Fortune from Giving USA and the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, Scott donated nearly $7 billion in 2025, accounting for around one-third of the $19.2 billion in megagifts made that year.

Her donations extend beyond progressive causes

Although Scott has supported organizations working on issues highlighted by her critics, her philanthropy has also included programs focused on basic community services and education.

Earlier this year, she donated $70 million to Meals on Wheels America, helping support meal delivery and other services for seniors and people who are homebound.

Scott has also given millions to colleges and universities. Her donations include $7 million to Red Lake Nation College and $42 million to Elizabeth City State University.

Her total contributions to historically Black colleges and universities have surpassed $1 billion, with recipients including Howard University and Spelman College.

Other organizations that have received support include Habitat for Humanity and Girl Scouts of the USA.

How Jeff Bezos’ ex-wife built her fortune

Scott became one of the world's wealthiest women following her divorce from Bezos in 2019. As part of their divorce settlement, she received a 4% stake in Amazon, which became the foundation of her enormous fortune.

Scott subsequently pledged to give away the majority of her wealth and quickly became known for the scale and speed of her philanthropy.

Her approach has often involved large, unrestricted donations, giving nonprofits flexibility to decide how they use the money rather than requiring funds to be spent on narrowly defined projects.

Scott’s giving has placed her among the most significant philanthropists in modern American history. With Scott continuing to give away billions of dollars, her philanthropy is likely to remain a subject of intense public and political debate.