Tech billionaire Bill Gates has admitted that divorcing his estranged wife, Melinda Gates, after 27 years of marriage, will always be the biggest regret of his life.
Gates admitted in an interview with the TIMES of London that the split was a deeply challenging experience but noted that he feels more alive now.
“I’m more cheerful now,” Gates stated, adding that the unravelling of his marriage was “the mistake I most regret.”
The 69-year-old Microsoft founder highlighted that though he might have other failures, the divorce was “at the top of the list.”
“There are others but none that matter,” he said. “The divorce thing was miserable for me and Melinda for at least two years.”
Gates acknowledged the profound connection he shared with Melinda, saying, “There’s something extraordinary about spending your entire adult life with one person. The shared memories, the depth of what you’ve accomplished together, and having children—it’s all quite special. When Melinda and I met, I was already fairly successful, but not outrageously so—that happened during our time together. She stood by me through it all.”
“I encouraged Melinda to be a bit calmer than my mother was, but we were both quite driven. I spent more time with the kids than my dad did, but the ratio was still 10:1, with Melinda doing most of the parenting. We had a wonderful time,” Gates expressed.
Gates and Melinda, who are both dating other partners now, have maintained a friendly relationship following their split.
“Melinda and I still see each other — we have three kids and two grandchildren so there are family events. The kids are doing well. They have good values,” Gates noted.
The pair married in 1994 and share kids Jennifer, 28, Rory, 25, and Phoebe, 22.
The couple confirmed their split in May 2021, though they’d been separated for a year before the announcement.
