Jeff Bezos is giving $100 million to CNN contributor Van Jones. Bezos made the announcement during a press conference following his 11-minute space flight on Tuesday.
Bezos also gave $100 million to Chef José Andrés, founder of World Central Kitchen, a non-profit that provides free meals during natural disasters.
“They can give all to their own charity or they can share their wealth. It’s all up to them,” Bezos said.
Jones and Chef Andrés Bezos are recipients of Bezos’ Courage and Civility Award.
An emotional Van Jones thanked the Amazon founder for betting on him.
“Lauren and Jeff don’t do nothing small, man, they don’t do anything small, they just don’t do it. They dream big, they love big, and they bet big. And you bet on me, and I appreciate it,” Jones said at the news conference on Tuesday.
Bezos made headlines on Tuesday when he and three others flew into space on his unmanned Blue Origin spacecraft.
The phallus-shaped spacecraft launched at 9:12 a.m., as millions watched around the world.
Although the spacecraft never entered earth’s orbit, the capsule landed in a Texas desert just 11 minutes later.
