Former Microsoft CEO Bill Gates has described his divorce from Melinda French Gates as “the mistake he regrets the most.”

In an interview with The Times of London published on January 25, the 69-year-old billionaire shared insights about his separation from his wife of 27 years, revealing his aspiration to emulate the 45-year marriage of his parents.

“I encouraged Melinda to maintain a calm demeanour, unlike my mother, but we were both very ambitious,” Gates said, considering how he aimed to mirror his parents’ relationship.

He noted that he spent more time with their children than his father did, yet acknowledged that Melinda took on the majority of the responsibilities, with a ratio of 10:1 in her favour. “We had a great time together.”

Gates expressed his belief in the value of spending one’s entire adult life with a partner, especially when children, cherished memories, and collaborative projects are involved.

“When Melinda and I met, I was fairly successful but not incredibly so — that level of success came while we were together. She supported me through many challenges.” He admitted that their divorce was difficult and expressed disappointment when Melinda chose to leave the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which they had co-founded.

The couple first crossed paths in 1987 when Melinda joined Microsoft as a product manager, and they married in Hawaii in 1994. Together, they established the foundation in 2000, aiming to address global poverty and health issues. After their separation, Melinda, now 60, resigned from the foundation in May 2024.

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He acknowledged that his divorce from Melinda stands out as his most significant failure. “You would have to put that at the top of the list,” he stated while admitting that “there are other failures, none that weigh as heavily on him.”

He described the divorce as a “miserable” experience for both himself and Melinda, lasting at least two years. Gates noted that he has become “more cheerful” in the nearly four years since their separation, though he still views the divorce as “the mistake I most regret.”

Despite the split, Gates emphasized that he and Melinda maintain a relationship for the sake of their family. “We still see each other — we have three kids and two grandchildren, so there are family events,” he said and expressed pride in their children. The couple has three children: Rory, 25, Phoebe, 22, and Jennifer, 28, along with two granddaughters, Leila and Mia.