Why did Bill and Melinda Gates divorce?

Bill and Melinda Gates' divorce appears to be driven by a mix of personal and relational issues. Melinda Gates revealed that despite counseling and significant efforts to save their marriage, the level of trust between them had eroded beyond repair, which ultimately led to the split 1. She described the emotional turmoil following the divorce, including intense periods of grief and anger 2. There were also tensions related to Bill Gates' connection with Jeffrey Epstein, which Melinda publicly expressed her discomfort with, adding a layer of complexity to their separation 3.

After the divorce, Melinda decided to resign from the Gates Foundation, although she received an additional $12.5 billion for her charitable work. She expressed her wish to pursue her own philanthropic ambitions independently 4. Despite the end of their marriage, the Gates Foundation continues to be a significant force in global philanthropy, highlighting their continued, though separate, contributions to societal causes 5.