Melinda Gates is providing some insight into her ex-husband’s decision to give away a majority of his fortune, dropping a bombshell about the plan. The philanthropist recently revealed that Bill Gates did not consult her before deciding to give away his massive fortune, which was accumulated by the foundation she co-founded.
Earlier this week, the Microsoft founder announced that he will give away 99 percent of his fortune in the coming years, leaving just one percent for himself and his children.The tech mogul is shuttering the Gates Foundation by December 31, 2045, effectively ending his lifelong project to give away a majority of his multi-billion fortune.
“This particular decision was made after I left,” Melinda revealed, according to Daily Mail. “It was made between Bill and Mark [Suzman, the foundation’s CEO] and the board, and I think it’s a fantastic decision.”
Over the course of the next 20 years, Gates plans to distribute “virtually all” of his wealth, approximately $200 billion.
The Gates Foundation was founded in 2000 by Bill and his ex-wife Melinda, who left the organization after their divorce. It pours billions of dollars every year into health, foreign aid, and other public assistance programs.
While she wasn’t consulted about the decision, Melinda, applauded the move and insisted it had always been the former couple’s plan to give away their wealth.
“That’s been the plan, that the vast majority of those resources were to go back to society. I think it is fantastic that there’s now a public pledge to do that,” she told Fortune.
Melinda was an equal partner with Bill on the Gates Foundation, stayed on for three years after their divorce. But, in June 2024, she made the decision to leave to spend more time at her own organization, Pivotal Ventures, to specifically help women and girls.
After giving away a majority of his fortune, Bill Gates will hold onto just one percent of his wealth–which still equals out to an estimated $1.62 billion.
He and Melinda share three adult children, Phoebe, Rory, and Jennifer, whom will most likely inherit the remaining millions in cash Gates has upon his death.
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