Melinda French Gates, Bill Gates.Photo: SXSW/Getty; Sven Hoppe/picture alliance via GettyMelinda French Gatessays her divorce from ex-husbandBill Gateswas “unbelievably painful.“The philanthropist, 58, opened up about her split from the 66-year-old Microsoft co-founder in an interview withFortunemagazinepublished Monday, more than a year after their divorce wasfinalizedin August 2021.The couplefiled for divorcein May 2021 after 27 years of marriage.“I had some reasons I just couldn’t stay in that marriage anymore,” French Gates said in the interview. “But the odd thing about COVID is that it gave me the privacy to do what I needed to do.“She added, “It’s unbelievably painful, in innumerable ways, but I had the privacy to get through it.“French Gates has three children with her ex-husband: Jennifer, 25, Rory, 23, and Phoebe, 19.The kids were among French Gates' top priorities during the divorce, she said.“My main concern, of course, was trying to protect my kids through it,” French Gates toldFortune. “And we got to the other side.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free weekly newsletterto get the biggest news of the week delivered to your inbox every Friday.Melinda French Gates, Bill Gates.KAMIL ZIHNIOGLU/AFP via GettyIn March, French Gates toldCBS Mornings’Gayle Kingthat she and her ex-husbandremained “friendly"with each other, and maintained professional ties.The couple founded The Gates Foundation together in 2000, six years after they tied the knot.“Certainly, I wish him well — I don’t wish him harm,” French Gates said at the time. “And I think we have a productive working relationship, and I think that will continue.“That same month, French Gates toldUSA Todaythat the “lowest moment” of her life was when she decided to leave her marriage.“That wasn’t something I ever thought would happen to me,” she said at the time. “It certainly wasn’t what I thought on the day I got married, but I realized for myself, I needed to make a healthier choice.“She concluded, “That was just a very, very sad day.”
Melinda French Gates, Bill Gates.Photo: SXSW/Getty; Sven Hoppe/picture alliance via Getty
Melinda French Gatessays her divorce from ex-husbandBill Gateswas “unbelievably painful.“The philanthropist, 58, opened up about her split from the 66-year-old Microsoft co-founder in an interview withFortunemagazinepublished Monday, more than a year after their divorce wasfinalizedin August 2021.The couplefiled for divorcein May 2021 after 27 years of marriage.“I had some reasons I just couldn’t stay in that marriage anymore,” French Gates said in the interview. “But the odd thing about COVID is that it gave me the privacy to do what I needed to do.“She added, “It’s unbelievably painful, in innumerable ways, but I had the privacy to get through it.“French Gates has three children with her ex-husband: Jennifer, 25, Rory, 23, and Phoebe, 19.The kids were among French Gates' top priorities during the divorce, she said.“My main concern, of course, was trying to protect my kids through it,” French Gates toldFortune. “And we got to the other side.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free weekly newsletterto get the biggest news of the week delivered to your inbox every Friday.Melinda French Gates, Bill Gates.KAMIL ZIHNIOGLU/AFP via GettyIn March, French Gates toldCBS Mornings’Gayle Kingthat she and her ex-husbandremained “friendly"with each other, and maintained professional ties.The couple founded The Gates Foundation together in 2000, six years after they tied the knot.“Certainly, I wish him well — I don’t wish him harm,” French Gates said at the time. “And I think we have a productive working relationship, and I think that will continue.“That same month, French Gates toldUSA Todaythat the “lowest moment” of her life was when she decided to leave her marriage.“That wasn’t something I ever thought would happen to me,” she said at the time. “It certainly wasn’t what I thought on the day I got married, but I realized for myself, I needed to make a healthier choice.“She concluded, “That was just a very, very sad day.”
Melinda French Gatessays her divorce from ex-husbandBill Gateswas “unbelievably painful.”
The philanthropist, 58, opened up about her split from the 66-year-old Microsoft co-founder in an interview withFortunemagazinepublished Monday, more than a year after their divorce wasfinalizedin August 2021.
The couplefiled for divorcein May 2021 after 27 years of marriage.
“I had some reasons I just couldn’t stay in that marriage anymore,” French Gates said in the interview. “But the odd thing about COVID is that it gave me the privacy to do what I needed to do.”
She added, “It’s unbelievably painful, in innumerable ways, but I had the privacy to get through it.”
French Gates has three children with her ex-husband: Jennifer, 25, Rory, 23, and Phoebe, 19.
The kids were among French Gates' top priorities during the divorce, she said.
“My main concern, of course, was trying to protect my kids through it,” French Gates toldFortune. “And we got to the other side.”
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free weekly newsletterto get the biggest news of the week delivered to your inbox every Friday.
Melinda French Gates, Bill Gates.KAMIL ZIHNIOGLU/AFP via Getty
In March, French Gates toldCBS Mornings’Gayle Kingthat she and her ex-husbandremained “friendly"with each other, and maintained professional ties.
The couple founded The Gates Foundation together in 2000, six years after they tied the knot.
“Certainly, I wish him well — I don’t wish him harm,” French Gates said at the time. “And I think we have a productive working relationship, and I think that will continue.”
That same month, French Gates toldUSA Todaythat the “lowest moment” of her life was when she decided to leave her marriage.
“That wasn’t something I ever thought would happen to me,” she said at the time. “It certainly wasn’t what I thought on the day I got married, but I realized for myself, I needed to make a healthier choice.”
She concluded, “That was just a very, very sad day.”
source: people.com
