Everyone knows Melinda Gates as the wife of philanthropist, billionaire and owner of Microsoft Corporation Bill Gates. However, she also can boast of significant accomplishments, for which Forbes magazine included her in the list of the world’s most influential women. Read more about Melinda at dallaska.
Early years
Melinda was born in Dallas into a family of a NASA engineer and a housewife. She has three siblings, an older sister and two younger brothers. Recalling her childhood, she said that her father used to take her to the research station, where she could observe rocket launches.
She received her primary education at St. Monica Catholic School. The girl demonstrated excellent learning potential and was one of the most diligent students in the class. At the age of 14, she got her first computer, the Apple II, brought by her father. The girl used it for games and learned her first PL, BASIC.
Later, she enrolled in the Ursuline Academy, a Catholic college for girls in Dallas. Encouraged by her teacher, Susan Bauer, Melinda developed an interest in studying computer science. After finishing the academy, the girl continued her education at Duke University in North Carolina. There, she obtained a bachelor’s degree in computer science and economics in 1986. Alongside her studies, Melinda also taught mathematics and programming to children.
After university, she found her first job in 1987 at the giant Microsoft corporation, founded by Bill Gates. Here, she initially occupied the position of a marketing manager. Her duties included the development of such products as Cinemania, Encarta, Word and Publisher. In the early 1990s, she was promoted to General Manager of information products.
How she met Bill Gates
Four months after employment, Melinda met Bill Gates at a computer exhibition in New York. The next time, their paths crossed in the parking lot of Microsoft Corporation and Bill worked up the courage to ask the girl out on a date. However, only two weeks later, because the entrepreneur was overworked.
On January 1, 1994, the couple got married. Bill was 38 years old at the time and his bride was 29. The wedding ceremony took place on the Hawaiian island of Lanai. In her speech that evening, Melinda’s mother mentioned that much was expected of those to whom much was given. This phrase later inspired them to found a charity fund.
Bill Gates admired the fact that his wife was more educated than him, as it is known that Bill himself dropped out of college. Melinda’s frankness and independence also attracted him.
Charitable activity
In 1994, the William H. Gates Foundation was established, which was renamed the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation five years later. In 1996, Melinda resigned as General Manager to dedicate more time to the children and the foundation. In 2005, Time magazine named Bill and Melinda as Persons of the Year. The following year, Melinda Gates ranked 12th on Forbes’ list of the 100 most powerful women.
By 2022, Bill and Melinda had donated $59.1 billion to the foundation from their private income.
Separation
In May 2021, Bill and Melinda announced their divorce. The couple lived together for 27 years. According to The Wall Street Journal, the probable reason for the separation was Bill’s connections to Jeffrey Epstein. The latter was accused of pimping and involving dozens of minors in the sex industry. After admitting his guilt, the man cooperated with the investigation and was sentenced to 13 months in prison. Bill Gates claimed that these meetings were arranged in order to attract funds to the charity fund.
According to insider information, American journalists noted that Melinda had been concerned about her husband’s connections to Epstein as early as 2013. From 2019, the couple began consultations with divorce lawyers. The marriage was officially dissolved on August 2, 2021.