Melinda Gates shares the emotional moment when she asked Bill Gates for a divorce, revealing his reaction to the difficult decision.
In a recent interview, Melinda Gates opened up about how her ex-husband, Bill Gates, reacted when she asked for a divorce.
The couple was married for 27 years, and their separation was a significant event in the public eye.
The beginning of their separation.
Melinda wrote about the moment she realized her marriage was over. She decided it was time to tell Bill about her feelings.
In February 2020, she invited him to join her on a trip to New Mexico. This was a trip she had planned to take alone, but she thought it would be a good time to discuss their relationship.
During the trip, Melinda felt nervous. She wanted to treat the vacation like any other, but she knew she had to bring up the difficult topic.
On the last day of their trip, she broke the news to Bill. She asked him to start living separately because she believed it was the best choice for both of them.
Melinda Gates opens up about ex-husband Bill Gates’ reaction to her divorce request
Melinda described the conversation as one of the scariest moments of her life.
“It was one of the scariest conversations I’d have had,” she said.
She felt a mix of sadness and anxiety as she spoke to Bill. He was understandably upset but also respectful of her decision.
Melinda suggested they stay in their Seattle home until their youngest daughter, Phoebe, finished high school.
This was a way to keep some stability for their children during a tough time.
After returning from the trip, Melinda knew it was time to end the marriage for good. That summer, they had another conversation about the divorce.
Melinda noted that Bill was known as a tough negotiator, which added to the complexity of their situation.
“Bill has a reputation for being one of the toughest negotiators in the world,” she wrote.
The announcement of their divorce.
Months later, Melinda officially filed for divorce. In May 2021, both Bill and Melinda released a joint statement confirming their split.
They later revealed that the divorce was partly due to Melinda feeling betrayed by an alleged affair Bill had with a Microsoft employee.
In January 2025, Bill spoke about the divorce. He called it the mistake he regretted the most.
He admitted that the process was miserable for both him and Melinda for at least two years.
Despite feeling more cheerful now, he still reflects on the divorce with sadness.
Bill shared his feelings about their long marriage.
He mentioned that spending your entire adult life with one person creates deep memories and connections.
He appreciated how Melinda supported him through his career, especially when he was not as successful.
The couple has three children and two grandchildren, which keeps them connected.
Bill emphasized the importance of family events and how they still see each other despite the divorce.
“The divorce thing was miserable for me and Melinda for at least two years,” he said.
You would have to put that at the top of the list. There are others but none that matter.
“… Melinda and I still see each other — we have three kids and two grandchildren, so there are family events. The kids are doing well. They have good values.”
After Bill’s admission about his regrets, Melinda was asked about the possibility of rekindling their relationship.
In an interview with Elle, she responded by saying that divorce is painful and not something she would wish on any family.
“You’ve clearly Googled more than I have.” She continued: “Look, divorces are painful, and it’s not something I would wish on any family.”