US-based tabloid National Enquirer has revealed the likely reason for what could become the world’s most expensive divorce. Jeff Bezos, the 54-year-old founder of Amazon.com was dating Lauren Sanchez, a 49-year-old former news anchor, helicopter pilot and dance show host.
Sanchez is separated from her husband, Hollywood talent agent Patrick Whitesell, who is reported to be a friend of Bezos. National Enquirer claimed to have obtained text messages sent by the billionaire to Sanchez. One of them allegedly was, “I want to smell you, I want to breathe you in. I want to hold you tight… I want to kiss your lips… I love you. I am in love with you.”
Bezos is worth $137 billion, as per the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. He owns about 80 million shares, or just under 16%, of Amazon. Jeff is also the proprietor of the newspaper Washington Post.
TMZ said Jeff and wife MacKenzie “did not have a prenuptial agreement so... will split their incredible fortune right down the middle”.
Bezos split could reshape wealth ranking, make wife richest woman
Quoting sources with direct knowledge, tabloid website TMZ reported that the division of assets between Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his wife Mackenzie will be incredibly complicated. “Aside from cold hard cash, the former couple is hardcore baronial —they own 400,000 acres of property, making them two of the biggest landholders in the country,” TMZ said. The Bezos have four children.
“A divorce could reshape the global wealth ranking. If the couple split their fortune equally, it could leave MacKenzie, 48, with $69 billion, making her the world’s richest woman. It could also make Microsoft Corp co-founder Bill Gates, currently worth $92.5 billion, the planet’s richest person once again. Bezos eclipsed Gates in October 2017,” reported Bloomberg.