Operation ‘save earth’: Jeff Bezos’ massive $14.9 billion donation to fight climate change

The Amazon founder is committing billions of dollars to charity, hoping the whopping pile of cash can help save the planet.

The world’s richest man has revealed a massive philanthropic campaign to help fight climate change through a $A14.9 billion commitment from his own vast fortune.

The Amazon founder and The Washington Post owner made the announcement on Instagram, detailing a comprehensive strategy of dishing out grants to scientists, activists and non-profit organisations.

The project has been dubbed the Bezos Earth Fund.

“Climate change is the biggest threat to our planet,” Mr Bezos said in a post on the social media platform.

“I want to work alongside others both to amplify known ways and to explore new ways of fighting the devastating impact of climate change on this planet we all share.

“We can save Earth. It’s going to take collective action from big companies, small companies, nation states, global organisations, and individuals.”

The donation equates to about 7.7 per cent of his net worth and comes on the back of widespread criticism of the entrepreneur’s perceived lack of generosity.

Amazon workers in its Seattle headquarters have been vocal in condemning some of the company’s practices, pushing it to do more to combat climate change.

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Despite being among the richest people in the world, Mr Bezos only recently became active in donating money to causes as other billionaires like Bill Gates and Warren Buffett have done.

In 2018, Mr Bezos started another fund, committing $US2 billion ($A3 billion) of his own money to open preschools in low-income neighbourhoods and gave money to non-profits that help homeless families.

Amazon boss Jeff Bezos has been criticised for not donating enough of his fortune in the past. Picture: Saul Loeb / AFP

Just last month, Mr Bezos donated $1 million and some of his own technology to help Australia as bushfires ravaged large parts of the country.

“Our hearts go out to all Australians as they cope with these devastating bushfires. Amazon is donating 1 million AU dollars in needed provisions and services,” he wrote in a tweet at the time.

Mr Bezos and his girlfriend Lauren Sanchez have been splashing cash recently. Picture: Pawan Sharma / AFP

Since the breakdown of his 25-year marriage to wife MacKenzie last year, which resulted in the richest divorce settlement in history at more than $A52 billion, the Amazon boss has enjoyed a lavish spending spree.

Adding to his luxury penthouses in New York and the glitzy renovation of a mansion in Washington, Mr Bezos recently coughed up a staggering $A245 million for a Californian mansion – the most expensive property ever sold in the sunny state.

The new digs is the Warner Estate – a property originally established in the 1930s for Jack Warner, the former president of Warner Bros.

It boasts a tennis court, swimming pool, several guesthouses, a 1210sq m main residence and garages complete with fuel pumps.

The Wall Street Journal reported Mr Bezos also bought a $US90 million ($A133 million) block of land near the estate that previously belonged to Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, who died in 2018.

He’s also got a string of other properties in his portfolio, including multimillion-dollar homes in Beverly Hills, Seattle and Texas as well as several apartments in New York.

– with AP