Melinda Gates has responded after her ex-husband Bill Gates described their divorce as the mistake he 'most regrets' in his 69 years of life.
Bill and Melinda Gates announced their plans to go their separate ways in May 2021, after 27 years of marriage during which they welcomed three children.
Throughout their relationship, the couple carried out numerous philanthropic acts including investments into access to vaccines for children, and the creation of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which seeks to try and combat global poverty and disease.
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Following their divorce, Melinda explained she and Bill had reached a point in their relationship that 'wasn't healthy', and she 'couldn't trust' what they had.
So they split up - but in January 2025, Bill described his split from Melinda as 'the mistake [he] most regret[s]'.
In a newly released interview with Elle, Melinda has now responded to her ex-husband's comments and admitted that leaving her marriage was one of the hardest things she has ever done.
However, the philanthropist said the split was also one of the most important things she's done.
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Upon being told that reports were questioning whether Bill and Melinda would get back together, Melinda responded: "You’ve clearly Googled more than I have."
She continued: "Look, divorces are painful, and it’s not something I would wish on any family.”
Though the split after a near 30-year marriage took its toll, Melinda has high hopes for her future.
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When asked what she hoped people would find upon Googling her in five years time, Melinda said: “She’s thriving on the other side of a divorce. Just thriving."
Following her split from Bill, Melinda decided to resign from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in May 2024.
Bill admitted her resignation was tough for him, but he looked back fondly on their relationship when he spoke to The Times in January.
He said: “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. 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.
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"When we got divorced it was tough and then she made the decision to leave the foundation — I was disappointed that she took the option to go off.”
Melinda has now committed $2 billion to 'expanding women’s power and influence' both in the US and across the globe.
Topics: Bill Gates, Money, Sex and Relationships
Emily Brown