Bill and Melina Gates were definitely one of the most famous couples in the world, right up there with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Unfortunately, as it seems all powerhouse couples do, their relationship ended in divorce, and while things certainly weren’t as messy for the Gates’ as it is for Brangelina, it wasn’t necessarily amicable. Melinda French Gates just opened up about her divorce from one of the world’s richest men, revealing that the affairs certainly played a role in their break up. Keep reading for more details.
Bill Gates Cheated On Melinda Gates, Spent Time With Jeffrey Epstein
While there were a lot of factors that influenced their decision to get a divorce, Melinda stated that there was "no one thing" that led to the end of their marriage. There were two things, though, that definitely stand out. Bill and Melinda got married in 1994, and in 2019, it came out that Bill had an affair with a Microsoft employee back in 2000, which led to an internal investigation. He ultimately ended up leaving the board as a result.
Even worse, Bill Gates was linked to Jeffrey Epstein, sexual abuser and human trafficker, on numerous occasions, both before and after he was convicted. Though Bill has said that he regrets those meetings, quite like an affair, it doesn't quite matter if you apologize—you still did an unthinkable thing.
Melinda Gates Opens Up About Divorce From Bill Gates
For the first time since their mid-pandemic divorce back in May 2021, French Gates spoke to TIME magazine about what the experience was like for her. "Getting a divorce is a horrible thing," she said. "It's just painful. It's awful when you realize you need one."
She explained that she was thinking of three things when going through the motions of separating from her husband of nearly 30 years—herself, their children, and their foundation, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Her priority was to make sure those three things emerged unscathed.
Despite it having been a really "hard thing" in her life, as she referred to it, now that it's over, "It has been wonderful." She's traveling, she's spending time with her children and grandchildren, hanging out with friends, even planning an African safari. By all accounts, Melinda French Gates is doing well. Good riddance, Bill!
