Melinda French Gates announced her departure as co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, one of the world’s largest charitable organizations, on Monday. French Gates, who co-founded the foundation with her former spouse over 20 years ago, disclosed her decision to step down to pursue her philanthropic endeavors independently.
Following her divorce from Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates in 2021 after 27 years of marriage, the couple pledged to continue their joint philanthropic efforts. However, Melinda Gates revealed that under the terms of their agreement, she will be allocated an additional $12.5 billion to dedicate to her initiatives benefiting women and families.
While the details of the Gateses’ divorce settlement remain undisclosed, Melinda Gates expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to the foundation’s impactful work. Bill Gates echoed his support for her decision, expressing confidence in her ability to make a significant difference in her future philanthropic endeavors.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has been instrumental in global public health initiatives, investing over $50 billion in the past two decades to address poverty and disease with a business-oriented approach.
In her statement, Melinda Gates emphasized the weightiness of her decision and announced her last day at the foundation to be June 7th, marking the end of an era in the organization’s leadership.
