Affair with friend's wife may cost Amazon's Jeff Bezos $69 billion

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and his spouse MacKenzie. US-based tabloid National Enquirer has revealed the likely reason for what could become the world’s most costly divorce. Jeff Bezos, the 54-year old founder of Amazon.com was dating Lauren Sanchez, a 49-year-old former news anchor, chopper pilot and dance show host.

Jeff Bezos, 54, has a fortune that has soared as high as $160 billion because of his stake in Amazon that once more became Wall Street’s most worthy company this week, surpassing Microsoft Corporation.

Bezos has credited MacKenzie, 48, for her support once he uprooted the young couple to Seattle from New York to launch Amazon, an online bookseller that grew into the world’s largest internet retail merchant.

Sanchez is separated from her husband, Hollywood agent Patrick Whitesell, who is rumored to be a friend of Bezos. National Enquirer claimed to have obtained text messages sent by the billionaire to Sanchez. One among them allegedly was, “I want to smell you, I want to breathe you in. I want to carry you tight… I want to kiss your lips… I love you. I’m in love with you.”

“A divorce may reshape the world wealth ranking. If the couple split their fortune equally, it could leave MacKenzie, 48, with $69 billion, making her the world’s richest lady. It could also build Microsoft Corporation co-founder Bill Gates, currently worth $92.5 billion, the planet’s richest person yet again. Bezos eclipsed Gates in October 2017,” according to Bloomberg.

Lauren Sanchez, whom Bezos is reportedly dating, did small parts in Hollywood hits like ‘The Longest Yard’, ‘The Day after Tomorrow’ and ‘Fight Club’. “Sanchez and Hollywood agent Patrick Whitesell wed in 2005 and have 2 young kids. She also has a young son from her first wedding to former NFL star Tony Gonzalez,” wrote celebrity news web site pagesix.com. Whitesell’s clients include megastars like Matt Damon, Christian Bale, Kevin Costner, and Hugh Jackman.