Melinda Gates, former spouse of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, has addressed their divorce in her new book titled ‘The Next Day’.
Gatekeepers News reports that Bill and Melinda were married in 1994 but announced their separation in 2021, marking the end of their 27-year partnership.
In a recent interview on ABC’s *Good Morning America*, Melinda shared her decision to openly discuss the divorce as a way to stay true to herself and to connect with others who have faced similar challenges.
She characterised the experience as “painful” yet recognised it as a necessary transition that brought some personal growth.
Melinda, 60, acknowledged that divorce poses significant difficulties for families and expressed her hope that her experiences might provide insight to others in comparable situations.
“It was important because if I am going to be my most authentic self. People knew I had gone through it,” she said.
“And it is hard on any family, so I write from my perspective. But it’s not something I would wish on anybody — and unfortunately so many families go through it.
“It is a big transition. And for me, while it was painful for sure, I ended up learning some lessons and there was some growth in there, too.”
The couple first met in 1987, when Melinda joined Microsoft as a product manager. They tied the knot in Hawaii in 1994 and established the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2000, which focuses on addressing global poverty and health issues. Following their divorce, Melinda stepped down from her position at the foundation in May 2024.
Together, Bill and Melinda have three children: Rory, 25, and daughters Phoebe, 22, and Jennifer, 28. In January, Bill referred to the divorce as his “biggest regret in life.”
