Melinda Gates Responds to Bill With Eye Roll

Bill and Melinda Gates, 2009. Photo by Kjetil Ree under CC BY-SA 3.0.

When Bill Gates recently confessed that his divorce was the biggest mistake of his life, it sparked widespread attention. But Melinda French Gates had a far less sentimental take.

A Marriage That Couldn’t Survive the Betrayals

The former couple was married from 1994 to 2021 and share three children: Jennifer, Rory, and Phoebe. For much of their nearly three-decade union, they were widely seen as philanthropic partners, co-leading the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

But Melinda’s new book, “The Next Day,” reveals the internal fractures that led to the breakup. In her own words, she points to a history of betrayals, including Bill’s admitted infidelity. According to Melinda, Bill publicly acknowledged that he had not always remained faithful during their marriage.

Around the time of their separation, media outlets reported that Microsoft^® had launched an internal investigation into a past affair between Bill and an employee. The relationship, which occurred in 2000, was brought to the board’s attention in 2019 and led to an outside law firm conducting a review. Though a spokesperson for Bill stated that his departure from the Microsoft board in 2020 was unrelated to the matter, it coincided with the public emergence of the allegations.

In addition to the affair, Melinda cited Bill’s association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein as another turning point. She described media reports detailing Bill’s meetings with Epstein as deeply disturbing, ultimately contributing to her decision to end the marriage. Bill Gates later admitted that, “In retrospect, I was foolish to spend any time with him. And he, sort of, got time with various people by spending time with other people … So yes, I think I was quite stupid. I thought it would help me with global health philanthropy. In fact, it failed to do that, it was just a huge mistake,” as reported by Hello Magazine.

Life After Divorce: Melinda Steps Into Her Own

Since the split, Melinda has stepped away from the shared foundation and is charting a new path. In May 2023, she announced her departure from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and revealed that she would focus on independent philanthropy. As part of her exit agreement, Melinda will receive an additional $12.5 billion to support causes related to women and families.

She already had a head start on this mission. Melinda founded Pivotal Ventures in 2015 to accelerate social progress in the U.S., especially for women and marginalized communities. Her financial resources make this possible - Forbes estimates her post-divorce net worth at approximately $30 billion, including a divorce settlement valued at $25 billion.

Bill Gates Reflects - And Regrets

While Melinda is focused on building her own legacy, Bill Gates continues to reflect on what went wrong. In January 2025, he said in an interview with The Times that it was “at the top of the list” of the biggest mistakes in his life. He added, “There are others but none that matter … The divorce thing was miserable for me and Melinda for at least two years.”

He explained that their marriage was integral to his professional success and that Melinda had supported him through much of his rise. In later comments on Today, Bill added that he wouldn’t have changed anything about the experience - despite the pain of the divorce, he still valued the family they built and the work they accomplished together.

Bill has since moved on with Paula Hurd, the widow of former Oracle^® CEO Mark Hurd. The couple has reportedly been dating since 2022 and were described by Bill as enjoying shared adventures, including travel and attending the Olympics^®.

A Final Chapter, or a Fresh Start?

In an interview with Elle for its 2025 Women of Impact issue, conducted in January and published in March, Melinda addressed Bill’s comments with a dose of realism and a sharp eye roll. Melinda Gates told Elle, “You’ve clearly Googled more than I have,” as reported by E Online. She added, “Look, divorces are painful, and it’s not something I would wish on any family.”

For many, the Gates divorce was about more than just a high-profile split. It was a reminder that even the world’s most powerful partnerships can unravel under the weight of private pain. Melinda’s decision to leave wasn’t made lightly, and while Bill may see it as his greatest mistake, she views it as a turning point - one that allowed her to reclaim her identity and pursue the causes she believes in most.

She didn’t dwell on regret. She chose progress.

References: Melinda Gates Reacts to Bill Gates Calling Their Divorce a Mistake | Why Melinda French and Bill Gates Really Split - and Where Her Finances Stand After Divorce Settlement | Bill Gates: Trump, Musk and how my neurodiversity made me