Divorcing Melinda Gates Was The Mistake I Regret The Most – Bill Gates

The co-founder of Microsoft and one of the world’s most prominent philanthropists, Bill Gates, has opened up about his divorce from Melinda French Gates, regarding it the greatest regret of his life.
The couple announced their separation in 2021 after 27 years of marriage, marking the end of a partnership that spanned decades of personal and professional collaboration.
In a recent interview with The Times of London, Gates candidly shared how the divorce impacted him, describing the process as “miserable” and reflecting on the lessons learned from their time together.
Gates acknowledged the enduring bond they share as co-parents and former partners in one of the world’s largest charitable foundations, despite the challenges.
Bill and Melinda Gates first crossed paths in 1987 during a Microsoft sales meeting. At the time, Melinda was working as a product manager, and Gates was already making waves as the company’s CEO.
Their relationship blossomed, and in 1994, the couple tied the knot on New Year’s Day. Over the years, they built a family together, raising three children: Jennifer (28), Rory (25), and Phoebe (22).
While reflecting on the early days of their marriage, Gates noted that Melinda played a crucial role in his life during a period of extraordinary professional growth. “When Melinda and I met, I was fairly successful but not ridiculously successful — that came during the time that we were together,” Gates shared. This partnership extended beyond their personal lives, as the couple co-founded the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2000, focusing on global efforts to combat poverty, disease, and inequality.
Also in the interview, Gates described the divorce as “the mistake I regret the most.” He explained that the process was emotionally taxing for both him and Melinda, lasting for at least two years.
“The divorce thing was miserable for me and Melinda,” he admitted, adding that the public nature of their split only compounded the difficulty.
Gates also expressed his disappointment when Melinda decided to step away from their joint foundation in 2024, which subsequently rebranded as The Gates Foundation. Despite this, he acknowledged the incredible work they accomplished together and expressed hope for continued collaboration in other capacities.
Today, Gates maintains a cordial relationship with Melinda. “Melinda and I still see each other — we have three kids and two grandchildren, so there are family events,” he said. He emphasized that their children are thriving and credited their upbringing with instilling strong values.
In May 2021, Bill and Melinda Gates announced their decision to divorce, following a year of private separation. In their joint statement, they emphasized that while they could no longer “grow together as a couple in this next phase of life,” they would continue to collaborate on their philanthropic work.
The divorce brought to light several challenges in their relationship. In a 2022 interview with NBC’s Savannah Guthrie, Gates admitted to causing “pain” to his family, though he refrained from sharing specific details about the role infidelity may have played. Melinda, on the other hand, revealed in a separate interview with CBS that her husband’s meetings with Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender, contributed to her decision to end the marriage. “I did not like that he had meetings with Jeffrey Epstein, no. I made that clear to him,” she said, describing Epstein as “abhorrent” and “evil personified.”
Despite the deeply personal struggles, both Bill and Melinda remained committed to co-parenting their children and maintaining a functional relationship for the sake of their family.