Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft and one of the world’s wealthiest individuals, has officially divorced his wife, Melinda French Gates, after 27 years of marriage. The high-profile couple, who announced their separation in 2021, has now finalized their divorce following prolonged negotiations over their extensive assets and charitable commitments.
In a joint statement released at the time of their initial separation, the couple expressed their decision to end their marriage while continuing their philanthropic efforts together. “After a great deal of thought and work on our relationship, we have made the decision to end our marriage,” the statement read. “We no longer believe we can grow together as a couple in the next phase of our lives.”
The divorce marks the end of one of the most powerful partnerships in both the tech industry and global philanthropy. The couple married in 1994 and share three children. Over the years, Bill and Melinda Gates became renowned not only for their wealth but also for their joint efforts in running the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, one of the world’s largest private charitable foundations.
The split comes after years of public scrutiny over their personal and professional lives, with sources suggesting that growing differences in how they wished to spend their time and manage the foundation played a role in their decision. Bill Gates, who stepped down from the Microsoft board in 2020 to focus on philanthropy, has remained deeply involved in technological and scientific advancements, while Melinda has increasingly focused on gender equality and women’s rights issues through her initiatives.
The financial settlement, which remains largely undisclosed, involved the division of billions of dollars in assets, including properties, investments, and stakes in various companies. However, both Gates and French Gates have reiterated their commitment to co-chairing the foundation despite their personal separation.
While the divorce marks the end of their marriage, both Bill and Melinda French Gates are expected to continue their influential roles in the global philanthropic sphere. Many of their supporters have praised the couple for their dedication to maintaining their professional partnership despite the personal challenges.
Their divorce follows a trend of high-profile separations in the tech and business world, but Gates has assured that their children’s well-being remains a top priority, and both have expressed a desire for privacy as they navigate this next chapter in their lives.
