Bill Gates Calls Divorce “The Mistake I Most Regret”
Bill Gates has described his divorce from ex-wife Melinda Gates as “the mistake I most regret,” despite feeling “more cheerful now” following the separation. The couple, who announced their divorce in May 2021 after 27 years of marriage, shares three children: Jennifer, Rory, and Phoebe.
In an interview with The Times of London, Gates reflected on his desire to mirror the 45-year marriage of his parents, admitting that he had hoped for a similar long-lasting union. “I absolutely wanted that,” he said. Bill Gates spoke about his and Melinda’s shared life and the role they each played in raising their children.
Gates Acknowledges Challenges in Their Professional Partnership
The former couple co-founded the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which has become a major force in global philanthropy. Gates revealed that their divorce also impacted their professional partnership, especially after Melinda chose to leave the foundation.
“I was disappointed that she took the option to go off,” Gates admitted.
Despite the end of their marriage, Gates and Melinda continue to co-parent their children and attend family events together. Gates expressed that their children are thriving and that he and Melinda have maintained a healthy relationship as parents.
Gates has admitted that the divorce was one of his biggest personal failures, saying that it caused significant emotional pain for both him and Melinda. “It was miserable for me and Melinda for at least two years,” Gates reflected.
Gates isn’t alone in addressing the aftermath of their divorce. Melinda has also spoken publicly about her healing process. In an October 2022 interview with Fortune, she shared that navigating the emotional pain of the divorce was incredibly difficult.
“It’s unbelievably painful, in innumerable ways, but I had the privacy to get through it,” she reflected.
Despite the challenges, Melinda emphasized her commitment to showing up as a leader in the workplace and overcoming the personal difficulties she faced while continuing to work alongside Gates.
