Even the most brilliant minds can’t always solve matters of the heart. Billionaire philanthropist and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has candidly reflected on his 2021 divorce from Melinda French Gates, calling it “the mistake I regret the most.”
A Painful Split After 27 Years
In an interview with The Times of London, the 69-year-old opened up about the emotional toll of ending his 27-year marriage. Gates had long aspired to follow in the footsteps of his parents, who were married for 45 years. “There is a certain wonderfulness to spending your entire adult life with one person,” he shared.
However, he acknowledged that despite their shared drive and ambition, Melinda took on the majority of parenting responsibilities. “The ratio was still 10:1, with Melinda doing most things for the kids,” he admitted. He described the divorce as a “miserable” period for both of them, lasting at least two years.
Melinda’s Exit from Their Foundation
Beyond their personal split, Gates also expressed disappointment over Melinda’s departure from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in May 2024. The foundation, which they co-founded in 2000, has played a crucial role in addressing global poverty and disease. “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.”
Life After Divorce
Despite their separation, the two remain connected as co-parents to their three children—Jennifer (28), Rory (25), and Phoebe (22)—as well as two grandchildren.
Gates has since moved on and is now dating Paula Hurd, the widow of former Oracle executive Mark Hurd. Meanwhile, Melinda has described her post-divorce journey as “hard” but ultimately “wonderful” as she embraces new opportunities.
When asked if divorce was his only failure, Gates responded, “You would have to put that at the top of the list. There are others, but none that matter.”