Melinda French Gates announced on Monday that she is stepping down from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, one of the largest charitable institutions in the world.
In a heartfelt statement shared on various online platforms, including LinkedIn and Instagram, Melinda Gates, the former spouse of billionaire Bill Gates, announced her resignation from her position as co-chair. With deep contemplation and careful consideration, she acknowledged that this decision was not made lightly.
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- 1 Announcement comes on heels of divorce
- 2 Couple initially said they would continue to work together
- 3 Gates to retain $12.5 billion for additional philanthropy regarding women and families
- 4 Why did Bill and Melinda Gates divorce?
Her final day at work with the global health and development charity based in Seattle will be on June 7th, she announced.
In a heartfelt statement, Melinda Gates expressed her immense pride in the foundation that she and Bill Gates had built together. She acknowledged the extraordinary work that the foundation is doing to address inequities worldwide. Melinda also shared her deep care for the foundation team, their partners, and all those who are impacted by the foundation’s work.
Over the course of three decades, the Gates Foundation has contributed a staggering $77.6 billion in charitable donations.
Bill Gates expressed his high expectations for his former wife as she moves on from her current position.
In a separate statement posted on X Monday, the Microsoft co-founder expressed his regrets about Melinda’s departure while acknowledging the significant impact she will make in her future philanthropic endeavors. He further emphasized his unwavering dedication to the Foundation’s work and his determination to seize every opportunity to enhance the lives of millions globally.
Mark Suzman, the CEO of the foundation, expressed in a video on his LinkedIn page that the foundation’s mission remains unchanged: to provide every individual with the chance to live a healthy and fulfilling life.
In a heartfelt video message, Bill Gates expressed his gratitude for Melinda’s invaluable contributions to their work over the past 24 years. He acknowledged her pivotal role in shaping their values and leading their efforts. Bill emphasized that her vision and influence have left a profound and enduring impact, which will serve as a strong foundation for their future endeavors. He reassured the millions of people who benefit from their work and the thousands of partners they collaborate with that they can still rely on the foundation’s unwavering commitment.
In a separate email sent to employees through the same platform, Suzman expressed, “Melinda has a genuine concern for the foundation and holds immense pride in all of you and the impactful work you carry out daily, improving the lives of millions of people… Additionally, in light of the challenging years witnessing setbacks in women’s rights both in the United States and globally, she aims to channel her efforts towards changing this course in the next phase of her journey.”
Announcement comes on heels of divorce
In May 2021, the philanthropic couple made the announcement of their split, marking three years since the news broke.
After being married for 27 years, they officially finalized their divorce in August 2021. Throughout their marriage, the former couple was blessed with three children.
People all over the world were taken aback by their unexpected split.
“When news of Bill and Melinda Gates’ divorce broke, it came as a surprise to many of us. In this COVID era, where their leadership and philanthropy have been admirable, we have looked up to them,” shared Leslie Barbara, a New York-based attorney specializing in divorce and family law at Davidoff Hutcher & Citron. She expressed her thoughts to USA TODAY upon learning about the split.”
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Couple initially said they would continue to work together
In 2021, following their divorce, Melinda Gates and Bill Gates expressed their commitment to working together at the foundation they had established in 1994.
The foundation emphasized that there are no planned changes to the roles or organization. In their statement, they assured that the individuals will persist in collaborating to shape and approve foundation strategies, advocate for its issues, and determine the overall direction of the organization.
Gates to retain $12.5 billion for additional philanthropy regarding women and families
“This is a pivotal moment for women and girls in the United States and across the globe – and for those who are working tirelessly to safeguard and promote equality,” her statement asserts.
As part of a settlement with her former spouse, Gates revealed that she would have an extra $12.5 billion to dedicate towards her efforts in supporting women and families.
In a recent statement, she expressed her intention to provide further details on the matter in the coming days.
Why did Bill and Melinda Gates divorce?
During a March 2022 interview with Gayle King, anchor of “CBS Mornings,” Melinda Gates candidly discussed her separation from her former husband.
Shortly after announcing their divorce, The Wall Street Journal reported that Microsoft board members made the decision in 2020 to remove Bill Gates from the board. This decision was made in light of an ongoing investigation into his past romantic relationship with a female employee at Microsoft.
According to the outlet, a spokesperson for Gates acknowledged that he had an affair almost two decades ago, stating that it ended on good terms.
During the conversation with King, Gates was questioned about the rumors of her alleged infidelity. In response to this, Gates replied:
“I truly believe in the power of forgiveness,” she expressed. “So, I felt like we had made progress in that aspect. It wasn’t just a single moment or incident that led to this decision. It reached a point where the accumulation of issues made me realize that our relationship was no longer healthy, and I couldn’t rely on the trust we once had.”
Contributors: Mike Snider, Amy Haneline, and Craig Harris.
Natalie Neysa Alund, a senior reporter for USA TODAY, can be reached at [email protected]. You can also follow her on X @nataliealund.
Melinda French Gates has announced her resignation from the Gates Foundation, emphasizing that it was not a decision she made lightly. In a recent statement, she expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to work alongside her colleagues and acknowledged the progress that has been made in global health and development during her time with the foundation. Melinda’s decision to step down comes after a “two-year process of reflection” and a belief that “the time is right to step down and begin a new chapter.” She plans to focus on her philanthropic work through Pivotal Ventures, an organization she founded to advance social progress and gender equality. Melinda’s dedication to making a positive impact in the world remains unwavering, and her departure from the Gates Foundation marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in her journey.
