Billionaire Bill Gates is opening up about his life and named the end of his 27-year long marriage to Melinda French Gates as his biggest mistake.
The Microsoft mogul spoke to The Times of London ahead of the release of his memoir, “Source Code.” In the interview, Gates said his divorce was “the mistake I most regret.”
“There is a certain wonderfulness to spending your entire adult life with one person because of the memories and depth of things you have done and having kids together,” Gates said. “When Melinda and I met, I was fairly successful but not ridiculously successful — that came during the time that we were together. So, she saw me through a lot.”
The couple announced in 2021 that they were separating, saying that their relationship was irretrievably broken.
He told NBC News’ “TODAY” show the following year that the divorce was “definitely a sad thing.”
“I have responsibility for causing a lot of pain to my family. It was a tough year,” Gates said. “I feel good that all of us are moving forward now.”
He and French Gates initially continued to work together through The Gates Foundation, one of world’s largest private philanthropic organizations. At the time of the divorce, the couple said they would run the organization for two years. If it became an issue, French Gates would resign her positions as co-chair and trustee after the conclusion of those two years.
French Gates issued her resignation last year, a decision that Gates told The Times of London “disappointed” him. But though the divorce was “miserable” for the both of them, it seems based on Gates’ interview that they are in a good place.
“Melinda and I still see each other — we have three kids and two grandchildren so there are family events,” Gates said. “The kids are doing well. They have good values.”
When asked by the Times if he had regrets other than the end of the marriage, Gates responded, “There are others, but none that matter.”
