Melinda French Gates responds to ex-husband Bill Gates calling their divorce a ‘mistake’

New York Post - Mar 18th, 2025

Melinda French Gates, in an interview with Elle, addressed her ex-husband Bill Gates calling their divorce his 'biggest mistake.' Melinda, now 60, expressed that while divorces are painful, she was confident in her ability to thrive independently post-divorce. Bill Gates, the Microsoft co-founder, had previously shared in an interview with The Times of London the personal turmoil he experienced during and after their split, describing the divorce as a significant failure in his life. The couple, who divorced in 2021 after 27 years of marriage, share three children and had been a prominent force in philanthropy.

The Gateses' divorce highlights complex issues, including personal regrets, familial impacts, and the role of professional relationships in personal life. Bill Gates' acknowledgment of infidelity and his controversial association with Jeffrey Epstein were contributing factors to the split, as hinted by Melinda in past interviews. Despite their public separation, both have moved on personally and professionally, with Melinda dating entrepreneur Philip Vaughn and Bill in a relationship with Paula Hurd. The story underscores the challenges of maintaining personal relationships amidst public scrutiny and high-profile careers.

Microsoft Bill Gates Jeffrey Epstein Philanthropy Divorce Melinda French Gates Infidelity Elle Magazine

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

6.8

Fair Story

Consider it well-founded

The article provides a clear and engaging account of Melinda and Bill Gates' reflections on their divorce. It scores well on timeliness and public interest due to the ongoing relevance of the Gates' personal and philanthropic activities. The clarity and readability of the piece are strong, making it accessible to a broad audience. However, the article could improve in transparency and source quality by providing direct citations and more detailed source attribution. While it offers a balanced view of both Melinda and Bill's perspectives, additional context on Bill's post-divorce activities could enhance balance. Overall, the story effectively captures the human aspects of a high-profile divorce, resonating with readers interested in personal development and celebrity news.

Accuracy

The story accurately reports on Melinda French Gates' response to Bill Gates' comments about their divorce, as well as Bill's reflections on the matter. The details about their marriage, divorce, and public statements are consistent with known facts. However, some claims, such as Melinda's current relationship status and the specific role Jeffrey Epstein played in their divorce, could benefit from further verification. The article does not specify sources for these details, which slightly affects its accuracy score.

Balance

The article provides a balanced view by including perspectives from both Melinda and Bill Gates. It discusses their personal reflections and public statements, offering insights into their individual experiences post-divorce. However, the piece could be seen as slightly favoring Melinda's perspective, as it opens with her response and dedicates more space to her comments. Including more context around Bill's activities post-divorce might have provided a more balanced narrative.

Clarity

The article is clear and well-structured, with a logical flow that guides the reader through the events of the Gates' marriage, divorce, and their individual reflections. The language is straightforward and accessible, making it easy for readers to understand the key points. However, the article could benefit from clearer attribution of quotes and statements to enhance clarity further.

Source quality

The story references interviews from reputable sources such as Elle and The Times of London, which enhances its credibility. However, it lacks direct citations or links to these sources, which would strengthen the reader's ability to verify the claims independently. The absence of direct quotes or attributions for certain claims, such as Melinda's current relationship, slightly detracts from the overall source quality.

Transparency

The article lacks transparency in terms of sourcing and methodology. While it mentions interviews and public statements, it does not provide direct links or citations for readers to verify the information. Additionally, the article does not disclose any potential conflicts of interest or biases, which could impact the reader's perception of impartiality. More explicit transparency about sources and potential biases would improve the article's credibility.