Melinda French Gates has disclosed that Bill Gates made the decision to donate nearly all of their foundation’s $200 billion fortune by 2045 without consulting her.
Bill Gates, 69, recently announced his intention to give away 99% of his wealth over the next 20 years, which would result in the closure of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation by December 31, 2045. He plans to retain only 1% of his estimated $162 billion fortune.
“This decision was made after I left,” Melinda told Fortune, referring to her 2024 exit from the foundation. “It was made between Bill, [CEO] Mark Suzman, and the board. I think it’s a fantastic decision.”
Although she wasn’t part of the decision, Melinda expressed support for it, emphasizing that giving back had always been a shared mission. She now leads her own charitable organization, Pivotal Ventures, which focuses on empowering women and girls.
Following their 2021 divorce, Melinda remained co-chair of the Gates Foundation for three years. She has since reemerged in the public eye to promote her memoir, which explores her widely publicized separation and personal journey.
In an appearance on The Late Show, she explained that the marriage ended due to a breakdown in honesty and trust. She has also pointed to Bill’s association with Jeffrey Epstein as one of the reasons behind their split.
Bill Gates has acknowledged making “mistakes” during their marriage but has not addressed claims of infidelity publicly.
