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eye-roll response

Melinda French Gates has voiced her opinion after Bill Gates called their divorce his 'biggest mistake'

Melinda has been thriving in her own right, continuing her philanthropic work and focusing on empowering women and girls worldwide


Senior Writer
MARCH 18, 2025 9:55 AM EDT

Melinda French Gates keeps it real about her split from Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. While he's calling it his "biggest mistake," she's not exactly dwelling on the past. In a new interview for Elle's 2025 Women of Impact issue, the 60-year-old philanthropist had the perfect eye-roll response when asked about her ex's regret.

"You've clearly Googled more than I have," she quipped, adding, "Look, divorces are painful, and it's not something I would wish on any family."

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 14:  Melinda Gates and Bill Gates speak on stage during The Robin Hood Foundation's 2018 benefit at Jacob Javitz Center on May 14, 2018 in New York City.  (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Robin Hood)© Getty Images for Robin Hood
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 14: Melinda Gates and Bill Gates speak on stage during The Robin Hood Foundation's 2018 benefit at Jacob Javitz Center on May 14, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Robin Hood)

But here's the kicker: She knew she'd be fine alone. "I knew when I got divorced, I would be okay. And I think that was the most important thing."

The Split That Had Everyone Talking

Bill and Melinda announced their divorce in May 2021 after 27 years of marriage. They share three kids—Jennifer, 28, Rory, 25, and Phoebe, 22.

Of course, their split came with plenty of speculation, including reports of Bill's alleged infidelity. While he never explicitly admitted to cheating, he did tell TODAY in 2022 that he made "mistakes" and took responsibility for the "pain" he caused his family.

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MONACO - JUNE 30: Bill Gates and Melinda Gates attend Global Champions Tour of Monaco at Port de Hercule on June 30, 2018 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by fotopress/Getty Images)

Fast-forward to January 2025, and Bill elaborated in an interview with The Times of London, saying, "You would have to put [the divorce] at the top of the list" when asked about his biggest regrets.

"The divorce thing was miserable for me and Melinda for at least two years," he added, before reminiscing about how their decades-long marriage kept him "grounded" during his rise to global success.

Bill's Moved On—And So Has Melinda

Bill's public regret tour continued in February 2025, when he told TODAY that while the divorce was painful, he's moved forward, and so has Melinda. "Despite the fact that the divorce wasn't great, having those three kids and the work we were able to do, even if I knew it wouldn't last forever, I would still do it again," he said.

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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 13: Bill Gates and Paula Hurd attend the 10th Annual Breakthrough Prize Ceremony at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on April 13, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)

He also confirmed he's been dating Paula Hurd, the widow of former Oracle CEO Mark Hurd, for over a year. During a Today Show appearance on Tuesday, February 4, the billionaire philanthropist told host Savannah Guthrie, "I'm lucky to have a serious girlfriend named Paula."  

Adding, "We're having fun. Going to the Olympics and lots of great things," revealing glimpses of their life together.  

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NEW YORK, NY - JULY 25: Melinda French Gates is seen arriving at 'This Morning' on July 25, 2024 in New York, New York. (Photo by MEGA/GC Images)

Meanwhile, Melinda has been thriving in her own right, continuing her philanthropic work and focusing on empowering women and girls worldwide. 

In 2022, Melinda, Amal Clooney, and Michelle Obama launched the collaborative effort Girls Opportunity Alliance, supported by the Gates Foundation and the Clooney Foundation for Justice. The initiative is aimed at ending child marriage and supporting women and girls in their pursuit of education.

While Bill might be looking back, she's all about what's ahead.

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