Bill Gates told Forbes about his plan to donate $20 billion to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation this month.
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Bill Gates said he and Melinda French Gates still “work constructively” on their charity foundation.
Gates told Forbes he and his ex-wife were often in agreement on issues relating to the organization.
“And we have a few things where she knows better than I, and we just support each other,” he said.
Bill Gates revealed in an exclusive interview with Forbes that, despite their acrimonious split, he and his ex-wife, Melinda French Gates, still work well together on their charity organization.
Gates told the outlet about his plans to give $20 billion to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation this month and said things were going well behind the scenes.
The foundation announced last July that French Gates might step down as co-chair in two years if she and Gates could no longer work together.
“I think all the evidence I see says that we’ll be able to run the foundation together forever,” Gates told Forbes, adding that his $20 billion donation went through with French Gates’ encouragement. He added that the pair were able to “work constructively” together even during the “tough times” of their divorce.
“It’s always surprised me how much Melinda and I agree on foundation stuff. And we have a few things where she knows better than I, and we just support each other,” said Gates.
He told Forbes that French Gates “gets to speak for herself,” and that he has received indications that they are and have always been a “great partnership.”
In July 2021, Insider reported on the uncertainty and confusion at the foundation that resulted from the couple’s split, as well as the allegations of inappropriate workplace behavior and ties to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein on Gates’ part.
The couple announced they were parting ways in May 2021 — after 27 years of marriage — and were officially divorced in August, per court records.
Both parties have opened up about their relationship. In December, Gates said he thought 2021 was the hardest year of his life, attributing his “great personal sadness” to the divorce and the isolation he felt amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, French Gates said in March that she thought their relationship “wasn’t healthy” and that she “couldn’t trust” what they had.