Melinda Gates recently responded to her ex-husband Bill Gates’ remark that their divorce was the "biggest mistake" of his life. The billionaire philanthropist shared her candid thoughts during an interview with Elle, providing insight into the end of their 27-year marriage.

What did Melinda Gates say about Bill Gates' regret?

When asked about Bill Gates’ statement calling their divorce a "mistake," Melinda Gates reacted with a mix of candor and composure.

“You’ve clearly Googled more than I have,” she reportedly said while rolling her eyes, according to Elle.


She acknowledged the difficulty of divorce, saying, “Look, divorces are painful, and it’s not something I would wish on any family.” However, she emphasized her resilience, adding, “I knew when I got divorced, I would be okay on my own. And I think that was the most important thing.”

How did Bill Gates reflect on their marriage and divorce?

Bill Gates, the Microsoft co-founder, opened up earlier this year in an interview with The Times of London, calling the divorce "miserable" and admitting he had hoped his marriage would last as long as that of his parents, Bill Sr. and Mary Gates, who were married 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,” Bill said.

When asked to reflect on his life’s regrets, he placed the divorce “at the top of the list.”

“There are others, but none that matter,” he admitted.

Why did Bill and Melinda Gates get divorced?

Bill and Melinda Gates first met in 1987 at a Microsoft sales meeting when Melinda was a product manager, and Bill was the CEO. Their relationship led to marriage in 1994 and the birth of three children—Jennifer, now 28, Rory, 25, and Phoebe, 22.

However, after secretly separating in 2020, the couple publicly announced their divorce in 2021, stating they could no longer “grow together as a couple in this next phase of life.”

Bill later admitted to causing “pain” in his family when Today show anchor Savannah Guthrie asked if infidelity played a role in the split. He chose not to disclose further details.

Melinda, on the other hand, hinted in a CBS Mornings interview that Bill’s meetings with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were a factor in her decision to leave.

“I did not like that he had meetings with Jeffrey Epstein, no. I made that clear to him,” she stated. “He was abhorrent. He was evil personified.”

Have Bill and Melinda moved on?

Since their high-profile split, both Bill and Melinda Gates have moved on in their personal lives.

Melinda is now in a relationship with entrepreneur Philip Vaughn. Bill, meanwhile, began dating Paula Hurd, a former tech executive and the widow of Oracle CEO Mark Hurd, in 2023.

Despite their separation, the two continue to co-parent their children and remain professional partners in the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, one of the world’s largest philanthropic organizations.

FAQs:

What did Melinda Gates say about Bill Gates’ divorce regret?
She acknowledged the pain but emphasized that she knew she would be okay on her own.

Why did Bill and Melinda Gates divorce?
They cited personal growth differences, but Melinda also disapproved of Bill’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein.