American billionaire and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has transferred nearly $8 billion to his former wife, Melinda French Gates, through her philanthropic organisation, marking a major financial milestone in what is widely regarded as one of the most expensive divorce settlements in history.
According to a 2024 tax filing first reported by The New York Times, Gates donated approximately $7.88 billion to Pivotal Philanthropies, the foundation established by Melinda French Gates, as part of the financial arrangements following their 2021 divorce. The disclosure offers the clearest picture yet of the scale and structure of the couple’s post-divorce settlement.
The donation forms part of a broader $12.5 billion agreement linked to Melinda French Gates’ exit from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. A spokesperson for Pivotal Philanthropies confirmed that the full amount agreed upon has now been fulfilled, with the nearly $8 billion transfer representing a significant portion of that commitment.
Melinda French Gates formally resigned from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in May 2024, ending nearly three decades of joint philanthropic leadership with her former husband. She had earlier announced plans to focus her work through Pivotal Philanthropies, a foundation she launched in 2022 to support women, families, and social equity initiatives. By the end of 2023, the organisation reportedly held $604 million in assets, a figure now dramatically increased by the latest donation.
Bill and Melinda Gates ended their 27-year marriage in 2021, a split that drew global attention due to their combined wealth and influence. Reports following the divorce estimated that Melinda received assets valued at roughly $76 billion, cementing the separation as the costliest divorce settlement on record.
The divorce followed public reports and investigations into Gates’ past relationships, including an alleged affair with a Microsoft employee, which the company’s board later described as “inappropriate.” Additional media reports also detailed claims of Gates’ interactions with staff and his past association with the late Jeffrey Epstein. Gates stepped down from Microsoft’s board in 2020 amid scrutiny, though he has previously said he regrets some personal decisions and has sought to move forward.
Despite the controversy surrounding their split, both Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates have continued to play prominent roles in global philanthropy. The latest disclosure underscores how their separation has reshaped the landscape of charitable giving, with billions of dollars now flowing into independent foundations that will influence global health, gender equity, and social development for years to come.
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