Bill Gates has spoken openly about his divorce from Melinda French Gates, describing it as “the mistake I regret the most.”
In an interview with *The Times of London* on January 25, the 69-year-old Microsoft co-founder reflected on his 2021 divorce after 27 years of marriage. He revealed that one of his life goals was to emulate his parents’ 45-year marriage.
“I wanted to model my parents’ commitment,” Bill shared, noting that while he spent more time with his children than his father did, Melinda took on the majority of parenting responsibilities.
Bill expressed his appreciation for the “wonderfulness” of sharing a lifetime with one partner, especially when raising children and building memories together. “When Melinda and I met, I was successful, but not at the level I reached during our marriage. She supported me through it all,” he said.
The couple first met in 1987 at Microsoft and married in 1994. Together, they co-founded the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2000, one of the world’s largest philanthropic organizations. However, following their divorce, Melinda resigned from the foundation in 2024.
Calling the divorce “miserable for both of us,” Bill admitted it remains his greatest regret. Despite this, the pair maintain a relationship, co-parent their three children, and celebrate family milestones together.
Bill has since moved on and is dating Paula Hurd, while Melinda has shared how the split has opened doors to “wonderful” new opportunities and a more independent lifestyle.
