Bill Gates was investigated for a past affair with an employee after the staffer brought it to light in 2019, leading to the founder stepping down from the Microsoft board last year, according to a new report. Gates, however, claims the investigation was not the reason for his stepping down.
The board ultimately decided Gates should step down, the outlet said, and Gates formally stepped down from the Microsoft and Berkshire Hathaway boards in March 2020. At the time, he said the decision was so he could “dedicate more time to philanthropic priorities including global health and development, education, and my increasing engagement in tackling climate change.”
Bill Gates.John Lamparski/Getty Images
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After 27 years of marriage, Bill and Melinda Gatesannounced their divorceinastatementon social media earlier this month, saying they “no longer believe we can grow together as a couple in this next phase of our lives” but “will continue our work together” at theBill & Melinda Gates Foundation. They share three kids: son Rory John, 21, and daughters Phoebe Adele, 18, and Jennifer Katharine, 25.
Bill and Melinda Gates.Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Melinda previously spoke about how upon graduating college and landing her first job at the then-start-up, she began dating Bill, who was the company’s CEO at the time. “I met her at a New York City sales meeting,” Bill said in a 2017 interview withCBS Sunday Morning. “And then it was only a week or so after that, that I went up to her in the parking lot and asked if she wanted to go out.”
In the same interview, Melinda spoke about their foundation. “It’s absolutely a partnership of equals. It’s important to both of us that the world understands that we are running this place together. This is our joint values being played out in the world,” she said at the time.
And in 2018, Melinda similarlytold PEOPLE: “We lead this organization together — the goals, the people we hire, the values we set — we enjoy doing that together. Bill is the first person I want to talk to when I get back from being out in the field. We sharpen each other’s thinking.”
source: people.com
