Melinda French Gates revealed she ‘had to leave’ her billionaire ex-husband Bill Gates because their marriage lacked honesty, which impacted their ability to ‘have intimacy.’
The 60-year-old philanthropist stunned Late Show host Stephen Colbert Monday night with her candid answer about the end of her 27-year marriage with the Microsoft founder.
Melinda, who famously split from Bill Gates in 2021, has recently stepped back into the spotlight to promote her new memoir, in which she candidly reflects on the major transitions in her life, including her high-profile divorce.
She explained to Colbert that her relationship with the father of her three children lacked trust and honesty, which forced her to leave.
‘I learned to have a trusted relationship, which is what I wanted in marriage, both partners have to be honest with one another,’ Melinda said.
‘And if you can’t, you can’t have intimacy and you can’t have trust. So in the end, I had to go.’
While she did not detail what caused the lack of trust in their marriage, Melinda has previously admitted that her ex-husband’s friendship with disgraced Jeffrey Epstein was a driving factor for their split.
Bill has refused to say whether he was unfaithful to Melinda, but previously admitted he ‘certainly made mistakes’ in their marriage and claimed to ‘take responsibility.’
Melinda French Gates revealed she ‘had to leave’ her billionaire ex-husband Bill Gates because their marriage lacked honesty
Melinda, who famously split from Bill Gates in 2021, has recently stepped back into the spotlight to promote her new memoir, in which she candidly reflects on their divorce
Looking at the positives, Melinda did confirm to the Late Show host that she is actively dating and said the experience has been ‘pretty great.’
DailyMail.com photos captured the philanthropist looking happier than ever while heading to a Broadway show with her new beau, tech investor Philip Vaughn, on Sunday.
The couple was seen arriving at Winter Garden Theater to watch George Clooney’s new Broadway production, Good Night, and Good Luck.
Beaming and sporting a post-divorce glow, she looked stylish in a navy blue belted Louis Vuitton wool coat which retails for nearly $5,000, over a black leather dress and $1,200 Valentino studded stilettos.
Vaughn, the Seattle-based founder of craft beer delivery company Tavour, looked just as spiffy in a gray suit and brown shoes.
He proved every inch the gentleman, holding the door open for his date as she exited the car.
The pair, whose relationship was first reported in October, appeared besotted with each other, laughing and smiling from ear to ear as they strolled into the venue hand-in-hand.
The couple’s outing came hours before the businesswoman kicked off her New York City press tour for her new book, including her appearance on ABC’s Good Morning America on Monday.
She told Late Show host Stephen Colbert that the lack of honesty and trust impacted their ability to have intimacy and that forced her to end the marriage
DailyMail.com photos captured the philanthropist looking happier than ever while heading to a Broadway show with her new beau
Melinda said she is focused on her children and grandchildren as she looks ahead following her high-profile divorce
Speaking on her decision to write about her dramatic separation, she told the hosts: ‘It was important because if I’m going to be my most authentic self, people knew I had gone through it.’
‘It is a big transition. And for me, while it was painful for sure, I ended up learning some lessons and there was some growth in there, too,’ she added.
Bill, 69, has since moved on with Paula Hurd, the widow of the former Oracle CEO Mark Hurd, first revealed by DailyMail.com. The two began dating in 2022.
Up until now, Melinda had remained largely diplomatic and had rarely spoken publicly about her ex and their failed marriage, save for a few recent interviews in which she called the divorce ‘necessary’ and said she and Bill each have their own lives now.
Earlier this month, the philanthropist, 60, told People: ‘Naturally, Bill and I see each other every now and then at family events, such as graduations.
‘When we do, it’s friendly.’
Gates’ muted description of the man she spent decades married to could be interpreted as the latest attempt to distance herself from scandal-plagued Bill.
The bombshell divorce between Melinda and Bill, finalized in August 2021, came after she reportedly struggled with his links to pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, who was found dead in his jail cell while awaiting trial in 2019.
Melinda has previously said the friendship was a factor in her pushing for divorce. Bill has said he deeply regrets spending time with Epstein but has never been accused of any wrongdoing in relation to the predator.
Following their high-profile split, Melinda and Bill both remained based in Seattle, while their children Jennifer, 28, Rory, 25, and Phoebe, 22, moved to the East Coast.
‘One of the most important things in my life is being present for the big moments in my children’s —and now my grandchildren’s — lives,’ Melinda said.
