Jackie Bezos, who has died aged 78, helped to launch her son Jeff on the path to becoming a multi-billionaire by providing an initial investment of $245,000 to create the online retailer Amazon.

Jackie Bezos, who gave birth to her son Jeff at 17 and for a time raised him alone as she struggled to build their lives together, has died. She was 78.

Jackie Bezos and her husband invested about $245,000 in Amazon when the online bookstore was in its first year.