Author and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has donated $63 million to Cal State Northridge.
The gift, announced Tuesday marks Scott’s second donation to CSUN, following the $40 million she gave in 2021, bringing her total support to more than $103 million and placing her investment in CSUN among the largest provided to any university, according to CSUN.
“We are deeply honored by MacKenzie Scott’s continued and increased confidence in our work,” CSUN President Erika Beck said in a statement. “This extraordinary support enables us to strengthen the systems and resources that help our students thrive. Our outcomes demonstrate what’s possible when you combine rigorous academic programs with comprehensive support that ensures all students have the opportunity to succeed.
“This gift recognizes what our faculty, staff and students accomplish together every day — opening doors, building futures and proving that educational excellence and access are not competing values but complementary commitments,” she continued.
Scott, 55, was married to Jeff Bezos, the co-founder of Amazon, from 1993 to 2019. In 2006, Scott won an American Book Award for her debut novel, “The Testing of Luther Albright.” Her second novel, “Traps,” was published in 2013.
She recently donated $13 million to Whittier College, and her total giving to nonprofits hit $7.1 billion in 2025. She has donated a total of $26.3 billion since 2019. Forbes estimates her net worth at $33 bilion.
