Bill Gates is looking back on his divorce from ex-wife Melinda French Gates, calling the decision “the mistake I most regret.”
In an interview with The Sunday Times published Jan. 25, the 69-year-old billionaire reflected on the aftermath of ending a 27-year marriage to French Gates, with whom he shares three children.
When asked if his divorce is his only “failure” in his life so far, Gates said it belongs “at the top of the list.”
“There are others but none that matter. The divorce thing was miserable for me and Melinda for at least two years,” he told the publication, adding that the two aren’t strangers to one another.
“Melinda and I still see each other — we have three kids and two grandchildren so there are family events,” he continued. “The kids are doing well. They have good values.”
Gates and French Gates revealed they planned to end their marriage in May 2021 in identical statements shared to social media at the time.
“After a great deal of thought and a lot of work on our relationship, we have made the decision to end our marriage,” read the statement. “Over the last 27 years, we have raised three incredible children and build a foundation that works all over the world to enable all people to lead healthy, productive lives.”
In his interview with The Sunday Times, Gates said his marriage to French Gates kept him “grounded” amid massive success, and he reflected on what their 27 years together taught him about love.
“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,” he said. “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. 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.”
Since the divorce, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has become solely Gates’. The Microsoft founder is currently dating Paula Hurd, widow of former Oracle CEO Mark Hurd, and told the outlet he’s “more cheerful” nowadays.
In May 2022, Gates reflected on his marriage and subsequent divorce when speaking to TODAY co-anchor Savannah Guthrie.
“The divorce is definitely a sad thing,” the billionaire Microsoft co-founder told Savannah Guthrie on TODAY at the time. “I have responsibility for causing a lot of pain to my family. It was a tough year. I feel good that all of us are moving forward now.
Gates’ response came after French Gates was asked about reports that her ex husband had multiple affairs during their marriage. In a March 2022 interview with “CBS Mornings,” she responded, “those are questions Bill needs to answer.”
When Savannah asked Gates if he had been unfaithful in his marriage, he responded, “I certainly made mistakes and I take responsibility,” but didn’t elaborate at the time.
“I don’t think delving into the particulars at this point is constructive, but yes, I caused pain, and I feel terrible about that,” Gates added.
