by Adwaith Hariharan
The Gateses in a joint statement officially announcing their divorce. Image Credit: Gadgets 360
Billionaires. Successful entrepreneurs. One of the richest couples ever. Revolutionary philanthropists. Public health advocates. Parents to three children. Several virtues can be attributed to Bill and Melinda Gates. However, their divorce came as a shocker. After 27 years of marriage, the Gateses have officially called it quits, no longer believing that they can grow together as a couple. Although this announcement was shocking, their divorce was in the making for quite some time, as Melinda had been looking for a divorce lawyer a few years before the official announcement.
Who are Bill and Melinda Gates?
Bill Gates: William Henry Gates III, is a software engineer, investor, author, and philanthropist. Born and raised in Seattle, Washington, Gates discovered his passion in technology and computer science at an early age, eventually leading Gates to drop out of Harvard and co-found Microsoft Corporation alongside his childhood friend Paul Allen at the tender age of 19. During his career at Microsoft, he became the richest man in the world, holding the title for 18 years, from 1995-2009 and 2014-2017, until Jeff Bezos surpassed him. Today, Gates has an estimated net worth of $128.3 billion, and devotes much of his time to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (est. 2000).
Melinda Gates: Melinda Ann French is a philanthropist, and former manager at Microsoft Corporation. Born and raised in Dallas, Texas, Melinda, like her future husband Bill, discovered her passion in technology at an early age. Prior to joining Microsoft, she began her career in technology by teaching math and coding skills to children. According to Forbes, she is one of the richest American women with an estimated net worth of $2.3 billion.
Bill and Melinda Gates in 2018 Image Credit: NYT
A Brief Recap of their Relationship
Bill and Melinda first met in 1987 at a business dinner in NYC, shortly after Melinda began working as a product manager at Microsoft. Melinda’s first impression of Bill was that "He was funny with very high energy." Months later, the two ran into each other in a parking lot, where Bill asked her out on a date in two weeks time. She told him that such a time is not spontaneous enough for her. Hours later, he telephoned her, asking her out again. Fast forward to 1994, after several years of dating, the two officially tied the knot in Hawaii during a private ceremony.
Bill and Melinda Gates on their wedding day, 1994 Image Credit: Hindustan Times
Perhaps their most noteworthy accomplishment was in 2000, when they co-founded The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, considered to be one of the largest charities in the world. During its twenty-one year run to date, the philanthropic organization has spent around $53.8 billion in the fight against poverty, disease and inequity around the world. Additionally, it has invested more than $1.75 billion in the combat against the COVID-19 pandemic.
What Led to the Divorce?
Currently, it is uncertain as to what exactly caused the dissolution of what appeared to be a picture-perfect marriage. However, it has been reported that Bill Gates had pursued other women during his marriage. Back in 2006, Bill, the chairman of Microsoft at the time, was in attendance at a presentation delivered by a female employee. Following the meeting, he emailed the presenter, asking her out to dinner. According to the NYT, his email stated, “If this makes you uncomfortable, pretend it never happened.” She just did that.
Another reported instance occurred a couple years later when he was on a business trip in New York City. He was at a cocktail party where he asked a woman who worked at his corporation out to dinner. According to the woman, Bill asked “I want to see you. Will you have dinner with me?” She responded by laughing it off uncomfortably.
There are other allegations, including his bizarre arrangement with Melinda where he spends a long weekend yearly with his ex-girlfriend. The most shocking of all is his association with convicted felon Jeffrey Epstein, despite his wife's disapproval.
What’s Next?
It’s certain that every divorce has an impact on the immediate family. However, it is yet to be seen how Bill and Melinda Gates’s divorce will play out on the global front, especially for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which is involved in several philanthropic efforts around the world. At this point, only time can tell.
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