Bill Gates usually appears restrained in his statements, although this time he surprised everyone with an intimate reflection on his romantic past. The Microsoft founder, who is 69 years old, has broken his usual silence to share an unexpected confession that has left many followers speechless. His testimony reveals a deep and very human longing: the desire to have built a lasting marriage with his ex-wife, Melinda.
"I wanted a 45-year marriage like my parents'," Gates acknowledged in an interview with The Times. The emotion contained in his words reveals the weight he still carries from his divorce. But why now, years later, does he decide to open his heart in this way?
Bill Gates makes an unexpected confession about his divorce from his ex-wife, Melinda Gates
Bill and Melinda met in 1987 and got married in 1994, during the height of Gates's technological empire expansion. They built a large family with three children, Jennifer, Rory, and Phoebe. In addition, today they also share the joy of being grandparents to two little girls, Leila and Mia.
In 2021, Bill Gates and Melinda French ended their marriage after nearly three decades of life together. Since then, they have taken separate paths, although they haven't lost contact entirely for the sake of their family. The billionaire clarified that this decision was one of the hardest moments of his life: "It's what I regret the most," he confessed.
Despite the ups and downs, Gates assures that they lived an intense relationship full of positive moments. "We had a great time," he recalled with a melancholic smile. Although both were very determined people, with demanding schedules and clear visions about their goals, they tried to balance their professional and family lives in the best way possible.
In his statements, Gates made clear the admiration he always felt for his ex-wife. She was with him from the very beginning, even before founding Microsoft, and the difficult process it took to keep it going. "She accompanied me through every stage," he expressed with gratitude.
Gates even pointed out that he was actively involved in raising their children: "I spent more time at home with the kids than my father did, by a ratio of ten to one." However, he also acknowledged that Melinda took on much of the responsibility for the children's education and care. "It was Melinda who took care of them for the most part," he clarified.
Bill Gates acknowledges that the separation was devastating for both
"When we got divorced it was hard," he confessed bluntly. Not only because of the romantic breakup, but also because of the emotional impact it had on the whole family. "The divorce devastated us for at least two years," the magnate declared, revealing a wound that, although partially healed, is still present.
For 27 years they shared not only a family life, but also a joint philanthropic project. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is one of the most influential charitable organizations in the world. However, professional harmony wasn't enough to keep the marriage alive.
In fact, Bill Gates admitted how painful it was when she decided to step away from the joint project. "I was very angry about her decision to leave," he added, referring to the Foundation they both founded in 2000.
His words leave no room for doubt: his greatest desire was to have lived a long, stable, and lasting marriage like the one his parents had. "I wanted a 45-year marriage like my parents'," he repeated with contained emotion.
Beyond success, wealth, or public notoriety, Gates focuses on human relationships, affections, and what could have been but wasn't. His reflection is not only a reckoning with the past, but also an invitation to look to the future with greater sensitivity.
Currently, Bill Gates keeps a relationship with Paula Hurd, widow of technology entrepreneur Mark Hurd. Meanwhile, Melinda lives in a quiet neighborhood where she says she feels "on a human scale." She strolls through local shops, interacts with neighbors, and has written a book, The Next Day, which will be released soon.