Bill Gates Opens Up About ‘Miserable’ Divorce From Ex Melinda Gates, Calls It His ‘Biggest Regret’

Bill Gates has spoken candidly about his 2021 divorce from Melinda Gates, describing it as “the mistake I regret the most.” 

In an interview with The Times of London, the Microsoft co-founder shared that one of his biggest aspirations was to emulate his parents’ 45-year marriage.

“The divorce thing was miserable for me and Melinda for at least two years,” Gates, 69, said. While he noted he has become “more cheerful” nearly four years later, he added, “You would have to put that at the top of the list. There are others, but none that matter.”

Gates and French Gates, who married in Hawaii in 1994 after meeting at Microsoft in 1987, jointly founded the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2000. Despite their split, they continue co-parenting their three children — Jennifer, 28, Rory, 25, and Phoebe, 22 — and maintain a family connection through their two grandchildren, Leila and Mia.

Phoebe has gained attention for her work as a social media influencer. 

“Melinda and I still see each other — we have three kids and two grandchildren, so there are family events,” Gates said. “The kids are doing well. They have good values.” Gates is now dating Paula Hurd, the widow of former Oracle executive Mark Hurd.

Melinda, 60, resigned from the Gates Foundation in May 2024 and reflected on the divorce. She told Time last year that while the split was “hard” and “painful,” it eventually brought “wonderful” new opportunities. “I live in a neighborhood. Now I can walk to little stores, the drugstore, a restaurant. I absolutely love it,” she said.

Melinda also revealed the couple had separated during the Covid-19 pandemic, alternating who stayed at their shared home to protect their privacy. “It gave us the privacy to do what needed to be done in private,” she explained. “To disentangle your life while still taking care of the kids — thank God.”