MacKenzie Scott, one of the world’s most influential philanthropists, has come full circle after once relying on a friend’s financial help to stay in college. As a Princeton undergraduate, Scott faced dropping out when she could not afford $1,000 in fees, until her roommate Jeannie Tarkenton secured the money for her. Decades later, Scott, now a billionaire, is backing Tarkenton’s student-lending startup in a gesture many see as a symbolic return of kindness.

MacKenzie Scott’s path from borrower to major philanthropist

Scott has written that the experience of receiving help at a vulnerable moment influenced her views on generosity. Her former roommate recalls finding her in tears and arranging the $1,000 loan that allowed Scott to continue her studies at Princeton. Decades later, she is effectively repaying that act by becoming a financial backer of the company her former roommate went on to build, channelling resources into the same kind of students who face the struggles she once did. The story has resurfaced as Scott continues to direct her wealth toward expanding educational access, equity, and economic opportunity.With a net worth estimated at around 34 billion dollars, Scott has given away more than 19 billion dollars since her 2019 divorce from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, in which she received a substantial shareholding. Rather than establishing a traditional foundation or maintaining a public philanthropy profile, she became known for issuing surprise, unrestricted grants to organisations serving disadvantaged communities, often without seeking attention or public credit.Tarkenton, the roommate who helped Scott stay enrolled, later founded Funding U, a for-profit lending company offering merit-based loans to low-income students who lack co-signers. Scott has become a key financial supporter of the venture, providing capital that reduces risk for banks and makes it possible for more students to secure funding. The company assesses applicants based on academic records, internship experience, and likelihood of completing a degree, a model supporters say better reflects the realities of first-generation and low-income students.

A philanthropic approach shaped by access, equity and scale

Following her divorce, Scott launched a large-scale giving initiative that directed billions of dollars to organisations across the United States. Her donations have supported education, community development, women’s initiatives, food access, and poverty reduction. Among her most widely recognised contributions were major gifts to Historically Black Colleges and Universities, as well as tribal, Indigenous-serving, and community colleges that had rarely received major private donations in the past.

A full circle story of kindness and opportunity

Scott once relied on a small loan to stay in university, and she is now supporting a venture designed to ensure other students do not face the same barrier. The renewed connection between Scott and Tarkenton highlights how early experiences can shape long-term commitments to expanding opportunity and educational access. What began as a modest favour between friends has evolved into an initiative reaching students across the country, demonstrating how individual acts of support can grow into broader systems of opportunity.