
Microsoft co-founder and billionaire Bill Gates recently shared that his divorce from Melinda French Gates is the one decision he regrets the most.
In an interview with The Times, published on Saturday, Gates admitted, “It was the mistake I most regret.” The couple, once considered a powerhouse in both philanthropy and tech, shocked the world in May 2021 when they announced their split after 27 years of marriage.
“After a great deal of thought and a lot of work on our relationship, we have made the decision to end our marriage,” they wrote in a joint statement at the time. “Over the last 27 years, we have raised three incredible children and built a foundation that works around the world to enable all people to lead healthy, productive lives.”
Despite their separation, the two continued working together as co-chairs of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation—one of the world’s largest charitable organizations—until Melinda stepped down last year.
For Gates, 69, the divorce was deeply painful. He lost more than just a life partner—he lost their shared routines, including their joint book club, meditation sessions, and daily walks.
“You would have to put that at the top of the list,” Gates told The Times, referring to his biggest regrets. “There are others, but none that matter. The divorce thing was miserable for me and Melinda for at least two years.”
A Relationship That Shaped His Life
Gates acknowledged that his success was due to a combination of factors, and his marriage to Melinda played a big role in keeping him grounded.
The couple first met in 1987 when Melinda joined Microsoft as a product manager. Seated next to each other at a business dinner in New York, they hit it off. Seven years later, they married in Hawaii.
Melinda worked at Microsoft for a decade, helping develop multimedia products before stepping away to focus on their family and philanthropic work. Together, they raised three children—Jennifer, Rory, and Phoebe.
“There is a certain wonderfulness to spending your entire adult life with one person,” Gates reflected. “The memories, the depth of what you’ve done together, raising kids—it’s special. When Melinda and I met, I was fairly successful but not ridiculously successful. That came while we were together. She saw me through a lot.”
Moving Forward After Divorce
Gates admitted that going through the divorce was “tough” and that he was “disappointed” when Melinda later decided to leave the foundation.
“Melinda and I still see each other—we have three kids and two grandchildren, so there are family events,” he said. “The kids are doing well. They have good values.”
As part of their separation agreement, Melinda will receive an additional $12.5 billion to support her philanthropic efforts, particularly those focused on women and families.
Melinda had already begun her own initiatives years prior, launching Pivotal Ventures in 2015 to address issues affecting women and families. In 2019, she published The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World.
Melinda on the Divorce and Bill Gates’ Past
Melinda opened up about the divorce in a March 2022 interview with CBS Mornings anchor Gayle King.
Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal reported that in 2020, Microsoft board members decided it was best for Gates to step down amid an investigation into a past romantic relationship with a female employee. A spokesperson for Gates acknowledged that the affair had taken place nearly 20 years earlier and ended “amicably.”
When asked about the alleged infidelity, Melinda told King:
“Well, I certainly believe in forgiveness, so I thought we had worked through some of that,” she said. “It wasn’t one moment or one specific thing. There just came a point where I realized it just wasn’t healthy, and I couldn’t trust what we had anymore.”
Though their marriage came to an end, both Bill and Melinda continue to focus on their respective philanthropic efforts while maintaining their roles as parents and grandparents. A New Haven Divorce Lawyer might point to their high-profile split as an example of how even amicable divorces can carry emotional and financial complexities, especially when significant assets and public reputations are involved.
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