Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates were one of the most prominent couples in global business, working together at Microsoft between 1987 and 1996. The couple married in 1994 and launched the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2000. However, more recently, Melinda expressed her discomfort with her husband’s connection with billionaire investor and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In October 2019, Melinda began consulting divorce lawyers after media outlets began to call Bill’s friendship with Epstein into question.
Although Bill and Melinda have agreed to continue their charity work together, the collaboration may end if they find they are unable to cooperate effectively. Last month, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation said Melinda would resign if, after two years, either of the pair decides that they are unable to work alongside the other. However, in this circumstance, Melinda would receive personal resources from her ex-husband to continue her own charity work.
