Philanthropist and ex-Microsoft manager Melinda Gates and her husband Bill split after 27 years of marriage
- Reference: 1620079544
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2021/05/03/bill_melinda_gates_divorce/
- Source link:
"After a great deal of thought and a lot of work on our relationship, we have decided to end our marriage," Gates said in a [1]statement .
"Over the last 27 years we have raised three incredible children and built a foundation that works all over the world to enable all people to lead healthy, productive lives. We continue to share a belief in that mission and will continue to work together at the foundation, but we no longer believe we can grow together as a couple in this next phase of our lives."
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Given the Gates' net worth this could be one of the biggest divorce settlements in history, even considering Jeff Bezos' [4]$38bn settlement with his now ex-wife Mackenzie. A prenuptial agreement may be in place but it looks, at first sight, as though the couple are treating this as an amicable divorce.
38 billion reasons to say goodbye: Ex-Mrs Bezos splits from Jeff with 4% of Amazon shares in tow [5]READ MORE
Both have committed to giving away their vast wealth – roughly $150bn – and will leave their kids enough money to “strike a balance where they have the freedom to do anything but not a lot of money showered on them so they could go out and do nothing,” as Gates said.
The two started dating in 1987, when Melinda was working at Microsoft, and they married seven years later. They have raised three children to adulthood and together built the world's largest charitable organization, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Thanks to the pair's efforts, polio is now on the verge of being exterminated at last, malaria deaths have been slashed, and new off-grid power and waste management systems developed that will improve lives in the developing world. They made it clear that work would be continuing together, despite the breakup, but have asked for privacy.
It would be easy, and somewhat facile, to call this marriage a failure in light of today's announcement, but the opposite is true. They successfully raised a family to adulthood, have built one of the world's greatest charitable institutions – just like robber barons of the past – and seemingly aren't going to burn all that down in a messy divorce. It's a refreshingly mature attitude. ®
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[1] https://twitter.com/BillGates/status/1389316412259270657
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/bootnotes&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2YJDG3JLDIPPwbGOqWXV23wAAAEw&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/bootnotes&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44YJDG3JLDIPPwbGOqWXV23wAAAEw&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[4] https://www.theregister.com/2019/07/08/bezos_divorce_is_finalised/
[5] https://www.theregister.com/2019/07/08/bezos_divorce_is_finalised/
[6] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Re: Clippy!
Or he caught her with a Mac ?
Warren Buffett...
This announcement follows on the same day that Warren Buffett names Greg Abel as his replacement as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. Guess that would leave him more time to disperse both his fortune and also that which he has been entrusted with, including that of Bill and Melinda Gates...
[1]https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/may/03/warren-buffett-names-greg-abel-as-next-ceo-of-berkshire-hathway
[1] https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/may/03/warren-buffett-names-greg-abel-as-next-ceo-of-berkshire-hathway
Can we just drop the 'philanthropist' from all of journalism, please? Not just for Bill Gates, for all of them? Who decides who is a 'friend of humans'? The rich guy? Are others not 'friends of humans'? It's become a self-appraisal-mechanism of the ultra-rich who can afford to pay PR-companies to soup up their image. And, yes, this also applies to the other great self-appointed philanthropist of our time, George Soros. Guardian readers may shudder at even the thought.
I think committing to, and following through with, giving away most of their (not inconsiderable) financial wealth is as close as we are likely to see to philanthropy is the modern greed and celebrity culture we inhabit.
Of course it’s relatively easy to give away the vast majority when even the small minority that is left is a fortune that would be hard for anyone to spend faster than it accrued interest.
I'd be the last one to thank Gates for the atrocities he's perpetrated on the world of computing but absolute fair play to him for the work he's done since he left Microshaft. I don't know what you've got against the word "philanthropist" (apart from it being hard to spell) but it seems to me to be a pretty good term for someone with millions in the bank who is trying to spend it to improve the lot of their fellows rather than just spaffing it on yachts and Bolivian marching powder.
Giving away money doesn't make society richer. It's a transfer of wealth, not a creation of wealth.
Society isn't improved by transferring money by itself. It can be improved by things working more/more efficiently, and getting more done. It's more of a vote on what you want more of.
Giving away money to ___ is paying for there to be more ___ than not ___ things. [Insert a group* (of people, etc...) to fill in the ___.] Is more ___ in society what you want? Note: Leaving money in bank is paying for more bank.
Actually working and being productive is what improves society.
*examples: Blacks, Whites, Asians, Disabled, Sick, Healthy, Poor, Wealthy, Robotic, etc...
:( I can think of interpretations of this that I didn't mean, not sure how to say it better right now.
Bill, Melinda and Bob too
"Well, there were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded"
[1]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Bob
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Bob
And Bob leaves with Mom
Well seems Melinda can finally get sole custody of Bob..Bill gets Clippy, Bill also has indicated he doesn't want visitation rights for Bob.
BvB
ps: Rumor has it there is a land fill in Hanford WA, that contains all the unsold copies of Bob. EPA spokesman predict they will remain radioactive for the next million years or so..
Embrace, Extend, Extinguish.....
But enough about the story of Bill's marriage anyway...
Irreconcilable Differences?
Did Melinda wipe Windows and install Linux?
It is always sad when a couple breaks up after a long marriage. I wish them both happiness in the future.
break up after a long marriage
I divorced 25 years ago and the fall out is still badly affecting us, especially the kids.
Although I did not like how he went about business I will remain tight lipped and not make flippant comments about their divorce - they are entitled to a private life.
All that I will say is to wish them the best, hoping for as little emotional bruising as possible.
I would not wish divorce on my worst enemy.
Re: break up after a long marriage
I've been through a few breakups and you sir are Correct.
It's Rough.
Separating, bazillions or not in play it's personalities.
I live in Redmond. I can walk to Xadadu2 [Bellevue not Redmond] for kicks before the sun goes down.
I'm actually stunned.
Breakups suck and I... Wish both of them Well.
People grow and move.... Ideally Forward.
Bill and I have been a few rounds in business, internet, etc. Came to my desk at WiReD to apologize (with a security team to keep me from beating him with a 2x4)
Dunno what his home situation is. It's really none of our business.
I walk by the Foundation at least once a month. I take the bus to Seattle and pass their home.
People are folk and like the test of us have Issues.
I was in LA when Arnie got busted for screwing the maid.
*Sigh*
People are people and we fuck up and are stupid.
This seems a pleasant disconnect.
No scandal! That's new.
Mrs Merton said it best...
What first attracted you to millionaire Bill Gates?
https://youtu.be/Lj-9lSEBBm0
Monday announcement....
So no patch (up) Tuesday?
Clippy!
Looks like you are filing for divorce - let me help you with that!