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Ultra-billionaire Jeff Bezos' $500k donation mocked with 'groans' at charity gala

Bezos, 57, took his girlfriend Lauren Sanchez, 51, to the Baby 2 Baby event at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood on Saturday night

Jeff Bezos appears to be having a real PR problem. He managed to be cast as the villain at a star-studded fundraising gala in Los Angeles despite donating $500,000 to the cause.

The billionaire founder of Amazon and Blue origin took his girlfriend Lauren Sanchez to the 'Baby 2 Baby' event at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood on Saturday night, November 13. Sources told Page Six that Bezos wasn't warmly welcomed by the A-list crowd. Hi 

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“Everyone was waiting for him to donate something, but he didn’t," an insider told the outlet about Bezos. “And then a little later, [Bezos] donated $500,000. There was an audible groan from the room," they added.

While it may seem a bit ungracious to groan at a cool half million dollars donated to charity, the report noted how Bezos was estimated to make a staggering $142,667 per minute. "So he in theory made more in the five minutes he spent pretending to eat the chicken than he donated the whole night," Oli Coleman wrote for Page Six.

Social media was inundated with comments mocking the world's second-richest man. "Well, to be fair now.. the price of rocket fuel has gone up. I mean, the man has to cut back somewhere for Chrissakes!" 

"Hey, this guy has real mega yachts and billionaire rockets to pay for. Sadly he doesn't care about devastating world issues or the rest of us plebs. Just his own ego. #BoycottAmazon," said another. "It's roughly equivalent to someone who's worth $100,000 donating 24 cents," commented a third.

"Instead of throwing crumbs and expecting praise, he should pay his workers a living wage ($30/hr), provide reasonable shifts and bathroom breaks for drivers. He would still have more money than he could spend in 5 lifetimes and would change the world for the better.," opined another. "Absolutely shameful. For someone making so much, he can give more than just that amount. It's kids we are talking about here," said another detractor appalled by the Amazon founder's measly donation.

Some, however, argued Bezos was entitled to do whatever he wanted with his wealth. "People will literally complain about anything. It’s HIS money...why should he HAVE to donate more?," asked one supporter. "he didn’t have to donate anything. Yet he did. How much did YOU donate? People always b****ing about something," argued another. "Why is this being presented as a bad thing? That is $500,000 more than those kids had before. He did not have to give a cent," another tweet remarked.

The glittering event honored the late Kobe Bryant's widow Vanessa Bryant with its 'Giving Tree' Award for supporting the charity. As she accepted the award, Vanessa paid tribute to her NBA legend husband, who had also been a longtime and distinguished benefactor of the organization. “I want to thank my husband Kobe and my daughters Natalia, Gianna, Bianka, and Capri,” Bryant said as she accepted the award. “Without your love and support, I wouldn’t have this strength to be here this evening. I love you.” The January 2020 helicopter crash that killed the Lakers Shooting Guard also claimed the life of his 13-year-old daughter Gianna.

Meanwhile, other notable guests at the charity event included Kate Hudson, Jessica Alba, Kerry Washington, Jennifer Garner, Ciara, Nicole Richie, and Mindy Kaling.