Bill Gates opens up about his divorce from Melinda and the 'biggest mistake' he regrets

Billionaire philanthropist and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates recently opened up about his divorce from Melinda French Gates, labeling it as "the mistake I regret the most."

Speaking candidly, Gates shared insights into the emotional toll of their separation and the enduring impact it has had on his life and family.

The End of a 27-Year Marriage

Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates announced their divorce in 2021 after 27 years of marriage.


The couple had been separated privately for a year before making the news public, citing an inability to “grow together as a couple in this next phase of life.”

“The divorce thing was miserable for me and Melinda for at least two years,” Gates admitted in an interview with The Times of London.

Reflecting on their journey, Gates noted his hope for a marriage as enduring as that of his parents, Bill Sr. and Mary, who were together for 45 years.

“There is a certain wonderfulness to spending your entire adult life with one person because of the memories and depth of things you have done and having kids together,” Gates remarked, adding that the divorce tops the list of his life’s regrets, as quoted in a report by The New York Post.

A Relationship Marked by Success and Challenges

The couple’s relationship began in 1987 when Melinda joined Microsoft as a product manager and Bill was the company’s CEO.

They married on New Year’s Day in 1994 and had three children—Jennifer, 28, Rory, 25, and Phoebe, 22.

“When Melinda and I met, I was fairly successful but not ridiculously successful—that came during the time that we were together. So, she saw me through a lot,” Gates said, acknowledging her significant role in his personal and professional life.

Despite their separation, the two continue to maintain a cordial relationship. “Melinda and I still see each other—we have three kids and two grandchildren, so there are family events,” Gates noted.

The Fallout and Its Implications

The divorce also had ramifications for the couple’s philanthropic work. Melinda’s decision to leave the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, one of the world’s largest nonprofits, in 2024 marked a significant shift.

The organization, which fights poverty and disease globally, was subsequently renamed The Gates Foundation.

In earlier interviews, Melinda hinted at factors contributing to the divorce, including Bill’s association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

“I did not like that he had meetings with Jeffrey Epstein, no. I made that clear to him,” Melinda stated in a 2022 interview, calling Epstein “abhorrent” and “evil personified.”

Bill has also acknowledged causing pain to his family but refrained from sharing specifics about their split.

FAQs

Is Bill Gates still involved with Microsoft?

Since stepping away from daily operations at Microsoft, Gates has focused on philanthropy and various other initiatives.

Who replaced Bill Gates as CEO?

Steve Ballmer, who became Microsoft’s first business manager in 1980, played a key role in developing the company’s foundational business strategies.