Melinda Gates reveals why she ‘had to leave’ ex-husband Bill Gates

Bill and Melinda Gates

Melinda French Gates, the ex-wife of billionaire Bill Gates, shared why she left her marriage in 2021.

In a recent interview on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert, she discussed her reasons. Melinda said their marriage lacked honesty, which affected their intimacy. This lack of connection ultimately led her to choose divorce.

Reflecting on her 27-year marriage to the Microsoft founder, she stated: “Both partners have to be honest. If you can’t be honest, you can’t have intimacy or trust.” She felt that without these elements, she had to leave.

Now 60 years old, Melinda is promoting her new memoir titled *The Next Day*. In this book, she reflects on her life and her divorce from Bill Gates.

While she did not specify what caused the trust issues in their marriage, Melinda has mentioned Bill's friendship with Jeffrey Epstein as a significant factor.

During the interview, Melinda confirmed that she is actively dating and engaged. “I am dating now and I’m engaged. It’s been pretty great,” she said.

Her fiancé is tech investor Philip Vaughn.

When discussing why she wrote about her marriage in her book, Melinda explained: “It would be disingenuous not to write about my transition out of marriage.” She noted that many families face similar situations.