Bill Gates Talks About 'Miserable' Divorce from Melinda

Bill Gates recently shared his feelings regarding his divorce from Melinda French Gates. He described it as "the mistake I regret the most." This candid view emerged during an interview with The Times of London, published on January 25. The former Microsoft executive, aged 69, reflected on his marriage of 27 years.

The couple’s separation took place in 2021, and in a significant turn, Melinda departed from their shared foundation in 2024. Bill expressed a desire for marital success, inspired by his parents' long marriage of 45 years. "I encouraged Melinda to be calmer than my mother," he stated. He acknowledged both of them were quite driven in their pursuits. He shared most responsibilities for their children, saying, "We had a great time."

Bill emphasized the value of spending a lifetime with one partner. He noted the significance of shared family, memories, and projects. "When Melinda and I met, I was not hugely successful," Bill explained. He continued, "She saw me through a lot." However, the divorce proved challenging for both. He expressed disappointment when Melinda decided to leave the foundation.

Bill and Melinda first met in 1987, when Melinda was a product manager at Microsoft. They married in Hawaii in 1994 and established the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2000 to fight global poverty and disease. Following their split, Melinda resigned from the foundation in May 2024.

In the interview, when asked if divorce ranked as his top life failure, Bill affirmatively said, "You would have to put that at the top of the list." Despite acknowledging other failures, none weighed as heavily on him. He described the conflict between them saying, "The divorce was miserable for me and Melinda for at least two years."

Over the years since their split, he has found himself becoming "more cheerful." Yet, this marriage remains his "most regretted mistake." Bill noted that he and Melinda still see each other, mainly due to family events. He spoke fondly of their three children: Rory, 25, Phoebe, 22, and Jennifer, 28, along with two grandchildren, Leila and Mia. Bill is now in a relationship with Paula Hurd, the widow of former Oracle executive Mark Hurd.

Melinda has shared her thoughts on their divorce too. In an interview last year, she described the separation as "hard" and "painful," yet mentioned new possibilities that came from it. "I live in a neighborhood. Now I can walk to little stores or a restaurant," she shared, reflecting on her newfound independence.

Additionally, Melinda revealed that the couple had chosen to separate during the COVID-19 pandemic. They would alternate staying in their shared family home with the children. "It gave us the privacy to do what needed to be done in private," she recalled. Melinda indicated that she made a private separation before committing to divorce, aiding in managing life's changes for their family.

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