Why Jeff Bezos gave US veteran who led Osama bin Laden raid $50,000,000
Topics: Amazon, Jeff Bezos, Money, US News, Charity
Ellie Kemp
Featured Image Credit: Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
Topics: Amazon, Jeff Bezos, Money, US News, Charity
Jeff Bezos donated $50 million to the retired US veteran who led the raid that killed al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.
The Amazon founder is the second-richest person in the world, behind Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.
And since 2021, Bezos has been putting some of his $250 billion net worth to good use through his Courage and Civility Award.
Launched to support philanthropists, fiancée Lauren Sanchez previously told CNN in the couple's first ever TV interview in 2022 about the project that they were 'building the capacity to be able to give away this money'.
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Asked directly if he intends to donate the majority of his wealth within his lifetime, Bezos confirmed: “Yeah, I do.”
Retired admiral Bill McRaven and actress Eva Longoria have each received $50 million from the award, bringing Bezos' pledge a total of $100 million - just 0.04 percent of his mammoth net worth.
McRaven led a special operations unit to bin Laden's northern Pakistan compound on May 2, 2011.
Al-Qaeda was behind the 9/11 terror attack, the deadliest ever on US soil which killed almost 3000 people.
Instructed by Barack Obama, McRaven's team killed the terrorist with three shots to the head.
McRaven has vowed to use Bezos' donation to develop educational programs for future military leaders, as well as for the children of veterans who've died.
Funding will also go towards mental health support for those who serve.
He told CNN: "The opportunity to use this incredible gift to help veterans and their families is the dream of a lifetime, and I am so grateful to Lauren and Jeff for giving me this opportunity."
Meanwhile, Desperate Housewives star Longoria plans to keep up her current work with her charitable bodies, the Eva Longoria Foundation and Eva's Angels.
The Hollywood star founded the former 2021 in a bid to 'help Latinas build better futures for themselves and their families through education and entrepreneurship'.
This includes offering mentorship and access to funding.
The latter - part of the foundation - helps support the special needs community.
Longoria told Elle her focus is on helping women as they 'are the changemakers in families.'
“When you help a woman, she helps her family. And then when you help families, you improve communities. And when you improve communities, you can improve nations,” she said.
Recently, the star pledged to donate $1 in aid of those affected by the ongoing Los Angeles wildfires.
Past recipients of Bezos' award include singer Dolly Parton, lawyer and civil rights activist Van Jones and World Central Kitchen founder José Andrés.