Billionaire and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has described his divorce from Melinda French Gates as the most regrettable decision of his life.
Speaking in an interview with The Times of London on Saturday, the 69-year-old tech mogul reflected on the pain of their separation after 27 years of marriage, calling it a "miserable" experience.
"The divorce thing was miserable for me and Melinda for at least two years," Gates revealed, adding that the split in 2021 stands out as his greatest life regret.
The couple, who tied the knot on New Year's Day in 1994, had built a life together, raising three children: Jennifer, 28, Rory, 25, and Phoebe, 22.
How it started
Gates and Melinda first met in 1987 during a Microsoft sales meeting, where Melinda worked as a product manager and Gates served as CEO. Their love story reportedly began in a parking lot when Gates asked her out.
Over the decades, the pair supported each other through life and business, co-founding the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2000.
Reflecting on their marriage, Gates admired the enduring union of his late 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, the depth of things you have done, and having kids together," he shared.
Painful separation and the aftermath
In 2021, the couple announced their divorce, citing an inability to "grow together as a couple in this next phase of life."
The separation followed a secret trial separation the year prior. Gates admitted the process was emotionally draining for both of them, saying it took years to recover.
Melinda's decision to resign from their foundation in 2024 marked another emotional blow for Gates. The nonprofit, now renamed The Gates Foundation, continues its work tackling global issues like poverty and disease, but Gates expressed disappointment about her departure.
"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," he said.
Reasons for the split
Though the couple has kept the details of their divorce private, reports suggest contributing factors may include Gates's alleged infidelity and his association with the late Jeffrey Epstein.
In a 2022 interview, Melinda admitted she found Gates's relationship with Epstein troubling, calling him "abhorrent" and "evil personified."
Gates, for his part, has acknowledged causing "pain" to his family without providing further specifics.
Moving forward
Since their split, both Gates and Melinda have started new relationships. Gates is currently dating Paula Hurd, widow of Oracle CEO Mark Hurd, while Melinda is in a relationship with entrepreneur Philip Vaughn.
Despite their separation, Gates said they remain in contact due to their shared responsibilities as parents and grandparents.
"Melinda and I still see each other - we have three kids and two grandchildren, so there are family events. The kids are doing well. They have good values," he noted.
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