By Tania Snuggs, news reporter

The ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has promised to give away to charity half of the reported $36bn (£28.4bn) she received following her divorce.

MacKenzie Bezos finalised her split from the world's richest man in April and it is claimed she received a 4% stake in the online shopping giant.

On Tuesday, she became one of 19 people to join the Giving Pledge, which started in 2010 by 40 of the wealthiest people in the US, including Bill Gates.

Image: MacKenzie Bezos finalised her divorce from Jeff Bezos in April this year

It involves billionaires pledging more than half of their wealth to charitable causes, either while they are alive or when they die.

The 49-year-old, who is the world's third-richest woman, said in a letter: "We each come by the gifts we have to offer by an infinite series of influences and lucky breaks we can never fully understand.

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"In addition to whatever assets life has nurtured in me, I have a disproportionate amount of money to share.

"My approach to philanthropy will continue to be thoughtful. It will take time and effort and care. But I won't wait. And I will keep at it until the safe is empty."

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MacKenzie is going to be amazing and thoughtful and effective at philanthropy, and Im proud of her. Her letter is so beautiful. Go get em MacKenzie. https://t.co/S2gLLBQyRQ

— Jeff Bezos (@JeffBezos) <aRead More – Source

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