Melinda Gates has spoken publicly for the first time about her “unbelievably painful” divorce from Bill Gates, the billionaire founder of Microsoft. She explained that “she just couldn’t stay in that marriage anymore,” while also sharing her struggle to continue working alongside her ex-spouse even as they were in the process of separating. Melinda Gates’ comments were made in a new interview with the New York Times. Melinda, now 58 years old, and Bill, then 66 years old, tied the wedding in 1994 after being together for 27 years before announcing that they will divorce in May of 2021.

Now, the computer scientist has opened up about her decision to leave her husband of nearly three decades, saying in a new interview with Fortune magazine that the COVID-19 pandemic helped give her the ‘privacy to do what she needed to do.’ This comes after she previously kept quiet about the decision. She went on to add, “I had certain reasons why I simply couldn’t remain in that marriage any longer.” “However, the strange thing about COVID is that it allowed me to carry out my obligations in total secrecy. Although it is excruciatingly painful in many ways, I was able to go through it because I was alone.

During their time together, the couple became parents to three children: Jennifer, now 25, Rory, now 23, and Phoebe, now 19. They also established the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in the year 2000, and despite the fact that they were no longer a relationship at the time, they continued to operate the foundation together; Melinda has said that this was something that helped her get over the breakup. “I needed to come up and be my best self every single day,” she added, “because I continued to work with the person I was trying to get away from.” So even though I could be sobbing at nine in the morning and then have to be on a video conference with the person I’m leaving at ten in the morning, I still have to show there and do my best.’ A snapshot of the Gates family that was obtained from their Instagram account is shown here.

She went on to say that “her major worry” has always been “protecting her kids,” and that she is grateful that she and Bill had now “gotten to the other side.” The ‘traumatic’ divorce that the philanthropist went through made her realize that ‘as a leader,’ she is capable of doing anything. “I learned as a leader that I could do it,” she added at one point. It brought to my mind that the foundation expects me to perform at my highest level. We collaborate with incredible partners all around the globe who were also experiencing difficulties during COVID. I was on a video conversation with a lady who had just found out that her father had passed away, and now, a week later, she’s on a call with me, right?

In a previous interview with Good Morning America, Melinda claimed that she and her ex-“philanthropy” husband helped them get through their divorce. She explained that it “held them around each other,” “allowed more grace,” and “smoothed things over” during some of the “most tough” facets of the breakup.

Back in August, she made this statement: “Our charity truly urged us to be our best selves, even at the most difficult circumstances behind the scenes.” [Citation needed] We were working through the particulars of the divorce, and while there was grief, both of us continued to be there for the foundation. She stated, “I believe that kept us together and allowed for more grace during that era, and since then, it’s sort of smoothed things over on the back end.” “I think it kept us together and allowed for more grace during that period.”

Bill and Melinda met at a trade exhibition in New York, and the following year, in 1994, they were married and had a family. Melinda had worked at Microsoft as the general manager of information products until 1996 when she quit the firm to concentrate on establishing a family. After they had been married for ten years, rumors started to spread that Bill was having an affair with a member of the Microsoft team. Melinda, on the other hand, claims that the reason they chose to divorce has nothing to do with this factor.

She said in an interview with CBS Mornings in March that she “absolutely believes in forgiveness” and that she “felt we had worked through some of that.” I committed absolutely all that made me, myself to this union. From the moment we announced our engagement until the moment I broke off the engagement, I was dedicated to the relationship. It wasn’t a single instant or a single occurrence that brought it about. She said that there just came a moment in time when there was sufficient there that I understood it just wasn’t healthy, and I couldn’t trust what we had. On the day of their wedding, Melinda Gates and Bill Gates are seen here.

During the interview, Melinda criticized Bill for his dubious association with Jeffrey Epstein and said that he continued to meet with him despite her having “nightmares” about him. She also criticized Bill for his problematic friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. “I did not like the fact that he met with Jeffrey Epstein,” you said. I made that point quite apparent to him,’ she said, adding that she had met Epstein at one point because she ‘wanted to see who he was.’ She went on to say, “I regretted it the moment I walked through the door,” which was an interesting use of the phrase. “He was revolting, the very embodiment of wickedness.” After that, it gave me nightmares. I couldn’t sleep. If there are any questions left unanswered concerning Bill’s connection with him, they should be directed at Bill, who will provide answers. I was really upfront with him about how I felt about him.’

In a statement that he gave to CBS, Bill referred to his meetings with Epstein, who is depicted above, as a “big mistake.” He said that his meeting with Epstein was a grave error that he profoundly regretted. It was a significant lack of judgment on their part. In May, the business tycoon was questioned about his history of extramarital affairs, and he responded by telling Today, “I absolutely made errors, and I accept responsibility.” I don’t believe that diving into the specifics at this moment would be productive, but yes, I am responsible for someone else’s discomfort, and I am very sorry about that. It is my duty to have caused a great deal of suffering to my family.

He continued by saying about their divorce, “The divorce is unquestionably a terrible thing.” It was a difficult year all around. It gives me a wonderful feeling to know that we have all moved on to better things. Melinda and I are carrying on with our collaboration on this project. It was a terrible and upsetting event, but now we are going forward together.

Aside from continuing to work together on their foundation, the exes also seem to be co-parenting well, as shown by the fact that they reconciled in order to lead their daughter Jennifer down the aisle during her wedding to Nayel Nassar in October 2021. (pictured). They set aside their disagreements for the day and stood side by side with their daughter as they carried her up to the altar. It was a really lovely moment. Additionally, they were seen leaving the ceremony together as well.

Following the conclusion of their marriage, it has been stated that the couple shared their combined wealth of $130 billion; however, the specifics of how they divided their various assets and substantial fortune have not been made public. The pair possessed properties in five different states, a fleet of automobiles that included a rare $2 million Porsche, an art collection that included a volume of writings and drawings by Leonardo Da Vinci that was valued at $30 million, and a series of private aircraft.

During the interview, Melinda criticized Bill for his dubious association with Jeffrey Epstein and said that he continued to meet with him despite her having “nightmares” about him. She also criticized Bill for his problematic friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. “I did not like the fact that he met with Jeffrey Epstein,” you said. I made that point quite apparent to him,’ she said, adding that she had met Epstein at one point because she ‘wanted to see who he was.’ She went on to say, “I regretted it the moment I walked through the door,” which was an interesting use of the phrase. “He was revolting, the very embodiment of wickedness.” After that, it gave me nightmares. I couldn’t sleep. If there are any questions left unanswered concerning Bill’s connection with him, they should be directed at Bill, who will provide answers. I was really upfront with him about how I felt about him.’

In a statement that he gave to CBS, Bill referred to his meetings with Epstein, who is depicted above, as a “big mistake.” He said that his meeting with Epstein was a grave error that he profoundly regretted. It was a significant lack of judgment on their part. In May, the business tycoon was questioned about his history of extramarital affairs, and he responded by telling Today, “I absolutely made errors, and I accept responsibility.” I don’t believe that diving into the specifics at this moment would be productive, but yes, I am responsible for someone else’s discomfort, and I am very sorry about that. It is my duty to have caused a great deal of suffering to my family.

He continued by saying about their divorce, “The divorce is unquestionably a terrible thing.” It was a difficult year all around. It gives me a wonderful feeling to know that we have all moved on to better things. Melinda and I are carrying on with our collaboration on this project. It was a terrible and upsetting event, but now we are going forward together.

Aside from continuing to work together on their foundation, the exes also seem to be co-parenting well, as shown by the fact that they reconciled in order to lead their daughter Jennifer down the aisle during her wedding to Nayel Nassar in October 2021. (pictured). They set aside their disagreements for the day and stood side by side with their daughter as they carried her up to the altar. It was a really lovely moment. Additionally, they were seen leaving the ceremony together as well.

Following the conclusion of their marriage, it has been stated that the couple shared their combined wealth of $130 billion; however, the specifics of how they divided their various assets and substantial fortune have not been made public. The pair possessed properties in five different states, a fleet of automobiles that included a rare $2 million Porsche, an art collection that included a volume of writings and drawings by Leonardo Da Vinci that was valued at $30 million, and a series of private aircraft.