REGRET OF A LIFETIME: Bill Gates Calls Divorce from Melinda His ‘Biggest mistake I’ve ever made’ -check out Melinda’s shocking reaction

Melinda Gates has responded after her ex-husband Bill Gates described their divorce as the mistake he ‘most regrets’ in his 69 years of life.

Bill and Melinda Gates announced their plans to go their separate ways in May 2021, after 27 years of marriage during which they welcomed three children.

Throughout their relationship, the couple carried out numerous philanthropic acts including investments into access to vaccines for children, and the creation of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which seeks to try and combat global poverty and disease.

Following their divorce, Melinda explained she and Bill had reached a point in their relationship that ‘wasn’t healthy’, and she ‘couldn’t trust’ what they had.

So they split up – but in January 2025, Bill described his split from Melinda as ‘the mistake [he] most regret[s]’.

In a newly released interview with Elle, Melinda has now responded to her ex-husband’s comments and admitted that leaving her marriage was one of the hardest things she has ever done.

Though the split after a near 30-year marriage took its toll, Melinda has high hopes for her future.

When asked what she hoped people would find upon Googling her in five years time, Melinda said: “She’s thriving on the other side of a divorce. Just thriving.”

Following her split from Bill, Melinda decided to resign from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in May 2024.

Bill admitted her resignation was tough for him, but he looked back fondly on their relationship when he spoke to The Times in January.

However, the philanthropist said the split was also one of the most important things she’s done.

Upon being told that reports were questioning whether Bill and Melinda would get back together, Melinda responded: “You’ve clearly Googled more than I have.”

She continued: “Look, divorces are painful, and it’s not something I would wish on any family.”

He said: “There is a certain wonderfulness to spending your entire adult life with one person because of the memories and depth of things you have done and having kids together. When Melinda and I met, I was fairly successful but not ridiculously successful — that came during the time that we were together. So, she saw me through a lot.

“When we got divorced it was tough and then she made the decision to leave the foundation — I was disappointed that she took the option to go off.”

Melinda has now committed $2 billion to ‘expanding women’s power and influence’ both in the US and across the globe.

Bill Gates has spoken about the downfall of his marriage to ex-wife Melinda, calling it the mistake he ‘regrets most’.

Bill, 69, split from Melinda in 2021, after 27 years of marriage.

At the time, the couple’s separation caused widespread surprise, and in a recent interview with the Times, the Microsoft co-founder called it ‘the mistake I most regret’.

“The divorce thing was miserable for me and Melinda for at least two years,” he said, explaining he’s ‘more cheerful’ now but still considers it to be ‘the mistake I most regret

They married in 1994 and went on to have three children together – Jennifer, 28, Rory, 25, Phoebe, 22 and two grandchildren, Leila and Mia.

Speaking about his ‘failures’ in life, Bill added: “You would have to put that at the top of the list. There are others but none that matter.

“… Melinda and I still see each other — we have three kids and two grandchildren, so there are family events.

“The kids are doing well. They have good values.”You know, I separated first before I made the full decision about a divorce. And to be able to do that in private while I’m still trying to take care of the kids, while still making certain decisions about how you’re going to disentangle your life — thank God.”

Melinda also spoke about the ‘new opportunities’ in her life, adding: “I live in a neighborhood. Now I can walk to little stores. I can walk to the drugstore, I can walk to a restaurant.

“I absolutely love it.The pair have moved on with new partners, with Bill dating Paula Hurd while Melinda is dating entrepreneur Philip Vaughn.

Melinda has also spoken about the couple’s separation, revealing how the timing of the split allowed the pair to come to a decision about their marriage in private.

Speaking about how they separated during the COVID pandemic, Melinda told Time: “It gave us the privacy to do what needed to be done in private.’.