Melinda Gates reacts as ex-husband bill announces his foundation to give away all $200 billion in wealth

Melinda France’s Gates called her ex-husband Bill Gates’ decision to donate almost all of her wealth to a “wonderful” idea, claiming it was a long time.

The 69-year-old Microsoft founder announced Thursday that he will donate 99% of his huge property in the next few years, leaving one percent for himself and his children.

He will close the Gates Foundation by December 31, 2045, effectively ending a lifetime project to give him billions of dollars in wealth.

Tech Mogul plans to distribute his “almost all” wealth, about $200 billion over the next 20 years.

The Gates Foundation was founded in 2000 with his ex-wife Melinda, who left the organization after her divorce and devoted billions of dollars each year to health, foreign aid and other public aid programs.

Melinda praised the move and shared that it has been a plan for the former couple to donate their wealth.

“That’s a plan, and the vast majority of these resources are back to society. I think it’s great to have the public promise to do this now. wealth.

I made this special decision after I left. It’s done between Bill and Mark [Suzman, the foundation’s CEO] Board of Directors, I think this is an amazing decision. ”

Bill announced that he is closing the Gates Foundation (the couple started in 2000) and by December 31, 2045, effectively ending a lifetime project to give him billions of dollars in wealth

Melinda, formerly her ex-husband’s equivalent partner at the Gates Foundation, has actually been around for three years after breaking up with him.

But in June 2024, she made the shocking decision to probably stay behind perhaps the world’s most influential charity and spend more time on her own organization, Pivotal Ventures, to help women and girls in particular.

When it comes to the Gates Foundation earlier than expected, Melinda told the Associated Press, “The timeline is the decision of Bill’s decision to work with the board.”

“I think now that the foundation’s work is to get a vaccine or to contribute to the woman who opens her first bank account – from now on, their families and communities will continue to look different because that child and that woman unlocked what the people around her.”

Gates will only make up one percent of his wealth, which is still equal to the estimated $1.62 billion.

He shares three adult children with Melinda, Phoebe, Rory and Jennifer, who will likely inherit the remaining millions of cash gates after his death.

Melinda, who split with Bill’s famous person in 2021, recently re-escalated to promote her new memoir, frankly reflects on major transitions in her life, including her high profile divorce.

In April, the 60-year-old philanthropist shocked the host of the late show Stephen Colbert, who gave a candid answer to the end of her 27-year marriage with the founder of Microsoft.

Melinda famously separated from Bill in 2021 and has recently been re-escalated to promote her new memoir

Melinda, formerly her ex-husband’s equivalent partner at the Gates Foundation, has actually been around for three years after breaking up with him

She explained to Colbert that her relationship with the father of three had a lack of trust and honesty, which forced her to leave.

“I learned to have a trustworthy relationship, and it’s the marriage I want, and both parties have to be honest with each other,” Melinda said.

“If you can’t, you won’t have close relationships and you won’t be trusted. So in the end, I had to leave.

Although she did not elaborate on what caused their lack of trust in their marriage, Melinda had previously admitted that her ex-husband’s friendship with the shameful Jeffrey Epstein was the driver of their split.

Bill declined to say whether he was unfaithful to Melinda, but had previously admitted that he had “made a mistake” in his marriage and claimed “being responsible.”