Microsoft co-founder and former CEO Bill Gates called his divorce from wife Melinda a "very sad" milestone. And communication with the American financier Jeffrey Epstein, who was accused of persuading minors into prostitution, was a "big mistake" for him.
Bill Gates commented on the completion of the divorce on CNN. He called the breakup "definitely a very sad milestone", and ex-wife Melinda Gates - "a wonderful person." Gates noted that he continues to communicate and work with Melinda in a charitable foundation. “We will try to maintain this partnership,” the billionaire assured.
The Gates' divorce after 27 years of marriage was officially registered on August 2. Interlocutors of the WSJ said that one of the reasons could be his relationship with the American financier Jeffrey Epstein, who was accused of sex trafficking in minors. According to the newspaper, Melinda Gates expressed her concerns about her husband's meetings with him back in 2013.
Commenting on CNN's conversation with Epstein, Bill Gates said he had lunch with him several times to discuss large donations to global health. The contacts ended after there was a feeling that this was not true. Trusting Epstein and "giving him the appearance of legitimacy at your own expense" was a big mistake, Gates said.
In addition to his friendship with Epstein, journalists found out that in 2020, Gates left Microsoft not of his own free will, but at the urgent request of the board of directors, who were investigating a report about Gates's affair with a company employee in 2000. We talked about this and other "skeletons in the closet" here .