Melinda French Gates is embracing a new chapter in her life, one that is markedly different from her past. In a recent interview with Time, the 59-year-old philanthropist and former wife of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates shared insights into her life post-divorce. The couple, who were married for 27 years, finalized their divorce in May 2021. Since then, Melinda has found solace and joy in her new, simpler living arrangements.
Melinda expressed a clear preference for her new home over the sprawling mansion she once shared with Bill and their three children. “I live in a neighborhood now,” she said. “I can walk to little stores, the drugstore, and restaurants. I absolutely love it.” This shift to a more accessible and community-oriented lifestyle seems to have brought her a sense of freedom and contentment.
The COVID-19 pandemic played a significant role in the couple’s decision to part ways. Melinda revealed that the pandemic provided the privacy they needed to navigate their separation. “It gave us the privacy to do what needed to be done in private,” she explained. “I separated first before making the full decision about a divorce. To be able to do that in private while still taking care of the kids and making decisions about how to disentangle our lives—thank God.”
As she looks ahead, Melinda is excited about the future. She plans to celebrate her 60th birthday in August and is eager to continue learning and growing. “I feel like, ‘Wow, I’m 60. I better surround myself with people and still travel so that I’m still absolutely learning, because the world is moving, the world is changing,'” she said. “I’m totally unencumbered to work in any way I want.”
Melinda is also open to the idea of meeting someone new. She candidly shared the qualities she is looking for in a partner. “I’m interested in somebody who’s open to learning, who’s vibrant, and who’s smart. Somebody who challenges me and that I challenge,” she said.
In addition to her personal life, Melinda has made significant changes in her professional life. She recently resigned from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, with her final day being June 7. Reflecting on this decision, she said, “I thought a lot about my three children. But I certainly thought about the effect on the foundation. Those are the three biggest buckets: me, the kids, and the foundation. I wanted to make sure that when we came through it to the other side—all of those pieces were intact.”
Melinda’s journey is a testament to her resilience and adaptability. She has embraced change with grace and is looking forward to what the future holds. Her new home and lifestyle symbolize a fresh start, one that is filled with possibilities and new experiences.
