MacKenzie Scott has given away nearly half her fortune, but Elon Musk says she is ‘making the world a worse place’

Billionaire MacKenzie Scott has drawn attention for giving away a large share of her wealth. However, her approach to philanthropy has also attracted criticism from some prominent conservatives, including Elon Musk.

Musk, the world's richest person, has previously criticized Scott's philanthropy, saying she is “making the world a worse place.”

In 2024, without naming Scott directly, Musk sparked controversy with a post on X that appeared to refer to her. “Super rich ex-wives who hate their former spouse should be listed among 'Reasons that Western Civilization died,'” he wrote.


Also Read: MacKenzie Scott once needed $1,000 to stay in college

In June 2026, Katie Miller, a podcaster and former adviser to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), also criticized Scott in a post on X, claiming that billions of dollars from the billionaire have gone largely toward progressive causes.

Miller argued that Scott's charitable donations have disproportionately supported organizations associated with progressive social causes. In her post, she 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 funding for Planned Parenthood, The Trevor Project, racial equity education, racial justice groups, LGBTQ organizations, gender equity, climate justice and immigration-related causes.

Also Read: MacKenzie Scott has donated more than Elon Musk, Larry Page and Jeff Bezos combined

The criticism has renewed attention on Scott's approach to giving and the organizations that have received billions of dollars from her fortune.

Scott, the ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has given away about $26 billion since 2020. With her estimated net worth now between $33 billion and $37 billion, the amount she has donated represents a significant share of her fortune.

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.

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

Scott has also donated millions of dollars to colleges and universities, including $7 million to Red Lake Nation College and $42 million to Elizabeth City State University.

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

She later pledged to give away the majority of her wealth and became known for the scale and speed of her philanthropy.