Melinda French Gates and Bill Gates in 2013.Photo:Brian Ach/Getty
Brian Ach/Getty
Bill Gates attends “What’s Next? The Future With Bill Gates” a special conversation at The Paris Theater on Sept. 26, 2024 in New York City.Roy Rochlin/Getty
Roy Rochlin/Getty
“My business career, though, there’s been some up and downs, has been incredibly phenomenal. My kids are phenomenal. So it’s even hard for me to complain about things,” he added.
Ultimately, Gates said, “I’ve moved past the divorce, and Melinda’s doing well. I’ve got a lot of work that I love to do. So I’m not really complaining about anything.”
Gates and French Gates, 60,were married for 27 yearsbefore they announced their split and share three children: sonRory, 25, as well as daughtersPhoebe, 22, andJennifer, 28. Additionally, they share two grandchildren, Jennifer’s daughtersLeilaandMia.
Melinda French Gates and Bill Gates in 2018.Kevin Mazur/Getty
In his interview with theTimes of London,whenasked if divorce was his only failure in life, Gates replied, “You would have to put that at the top of the list. There are others but none that matter. The divorce thing was miserable for me and Melinda for at least two years.”
Elsewhere in the conversation, he said he has become “more cheerful” in the years since their split, but still considers it to be “the mistake I most regret.”
Since the divorce, Gates has moved on with girlfriendPaula Hurd— and during his recent appearance on theTodayshow, the billionaire philanthropist opened up briefly about their romance.
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“I’m lucky to have a serious girlfriend named Paula,” he shared. “We’re having fun. Going to the Olympics and lots of great things.”
Bill Gates and Paula Hurd attend the 10th Annual Breakthrough Prize Ceremony at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on April 13, 2024 in Los Angeles.Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Gates also gave Hurd a shout-outat the end of his memoir, which covers the first 25 years of his life.
“Early readers of the manuscript included Paula Hurd, Marc St. John and Sheila Gulati,” Gates wrote in the acknowledgements for the book. “The close read from dear and trusted friends provided much-needed thoughtful and insightful feedback at critical stages in the writing.”
source: people.com
