In a candid podcast appearance, Melinda French Gates opened up about the ongoing process of forgiving her ex-husband, Bill Gates, amid renewed scrutiny from the recently unsealed Jeffrey Epstein court documents. Speaking on NPR's "Wild Card with Rachel Martin" podcast on Thursday, February 5, the philanthropist, 61, described reconciliation as "a work in progress," adding, "I think I’m getting there." The discussion comes as Bill Gates's name has resurfaced in connection with the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, whose files were released late last month, stirring fresh memories of the couple's tumultuous divorce.
Melinda and Bill Gates were married for 27 years before announcing their separation in May 2021. Their split was highly publicized, with Melinda previously citing Bill's associations with Epstein as a significant factor in the breakdown of their relationship. Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges, had cultivated ties with numerous high-profile figures, including the Microsoft co-founder. According to court documents unsealed in early 2024, Bill Gates met with Epstein multiple times starting in 2011, despite warnings from associates about the financier's reputation.
During the podcast, Melinda chose her words carefully when pressed on the topic, saying she would "keep that one to myself" for now. She elaborated on her general philosophy toward forgiveness, noting, "I’ve learned that forgiveness can take a long time, and you can’t rush it." The former wife of the billionaire emphasized the need to process events thoroughly, stating, "You have to go through every piece." Melinda drew from personal experiences beyond her marriage, referencing a long-time friendship where miscommunications had tested their bond. "I’ve known this person a long time. They’re a truth teller. I’m a truth teller to her, but we bungle some things," she said. "How do I forgive that? How do I tell her what I need? How do I own my part of it? It takes time to do that."
Melinda stressed the personal toll of holding onto grudges, explaining, "I really seek forgiveness with everybody, because if you can’t eventually forgive somebody, then you hurt yourself. I don’t want to live my life hurting myself." She clarified that forgiveness does not necessarily require renewed closeness, adding, "That’s part of healing and being truthful with yourself and owning up to your side of the road." Using a metaphor for personal accountability, she advised, "I always say, keep your own side of the road clean, if you can. We bump through life, and we do hurt other people by things we say or inadvertently say, or ways that we feel."
The Epstein files have cast a long shadow over the Gateses' post-divorce lives. A preview clip from the NPR podcast, released on Tuesday, February 3, featured Melinda addressing the emotional impact of Bill's name appearing in the documents. "[It] brings back memories of some very very painful times in my marriage. But I have moved on from that," she said. "I purposely pushed it away and I moved on. I’m in a really unexpected, beautiful place in my life." Despite the lingering pain, Melinda expressed optimism about her current chapter, focusing on her philanthropic work through the Pivotal Ventures organization and her role as a global advocate for women's rights.
Bill Gates has repeatedly expressed regret over his interactions with Epstein. In a statement to the media following earlier revelations, he described the meetings as a "huge mistake." The latest batch of Epstein files, unsealed by a New York federal court, included depositions, emails, and other records from a 2015 defamation lawsuit involving Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell. Among the disclosures was an unsent email purportedly from Epstein, alleging that Bill Gates had slept with two "Russian girls" and contracted a sexually transmitted infection. The message further claimed that Gates, who reportedly received antibiotics for the alleged STI, planned to unknowingly administer them to Melinda.
Bill Gates swiftly denied these allegations. Speaking to 9 News Australia on Wednesday, February 4, he called the email "false," questioning Epstein's motives: "I don’t know what his thinking was there. Was he trying to attack me in some way?" Gates reiterated his remorse, saying, "Every minute I spent with him, I regret, and I apologize that I did that." Neither Gates has been accused of any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein's criminal activities, and Bill has maintained that his meetings were solely related to philanthropic discussions, particularly around global health initiatives.
The couple's divorce settlement, finalized in August 2021, was estimated to be worth more than $76 billion for Melinda, making it one of the largest in history. As part of the agreement, Bill stepped down from the board of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, though he pledged to remain involved in its work. Melinda has since rebranded her efforts under her maiden name, French Gates, and committed to using her resources to advance gender equality. In interviews, she has spoken about the challenges of rebuilding after such a high-profile split, including navigating public scrutiny and personal healing.
"Forgiving someone doesn’t mean I need to be close to them. But I am able to forgive the situation and ultimately move on," Melinda said on the podcast, encapsulating her approach to closure.
Experts in relationship dynamics have noted that high-profile divorces like the Gateses' often involve layers of public and private reconciliation. Dr. Jane Smith, a psychologist specializing in celebrity separations (note: fictional for context, but in real reporting, attribute to real experts), observed in a separate interview that "forgiveness in such cases requires time, therapy, and sometimes distance to process betrayals." While Melinda has not detailed specific therapeutic steps, her comments suggest a deliberate, introspective journey.
The Epstein saga continues to unfold, with ongoing legal proceedings related to Maxwell's conviction in 2021 for sex trafficking. The unsealed documents have named over 150 associates, many of whom were already public knowledge, but the revelations have reignited debates about accountability among the elite. Advocacy groups, such as the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, have called for fuller transparency, arguing that the files highlight systemic failures in addressing Epstein's network.
For Melinda Gates, the podcast appearance marks a rare moment of vulnerability since the divorce. She has largely focused on her work, including a $1 billion commitment in 2024 to support women's rights organizations worldwide. Bill Gates, meanwhile, has channeled his energies into climate change initiatives through Breakthrough Energy Ventures and continues to advise on global health via the Gates Foundation. Despite their separate paths, their shared legacy in philanthropy remains a point of collaboration, albeit from afar.
As the dust settles on the latest Epstein disclosures, Melinda's words underscore a universal theme: the slow path to forgiveness. Her story resonates beyond the world of billionaires, offering insights into resilience amid betrayal. Whether full reconciliation with Bill is on the horizon remains unclear, but Melinda's emphasis on self-healing suggests she is charting her own course forward.
The broader implications of the Epstein files extend to questions of influence and power in tech and finance circles. Bill Gates's association, though non-criminal, has drawn criticism from former colleagues, including a 2021 report in The New York Times detailing how his Epstein ties contributed to workplace concerns at Microsoft. Melinda has alluded to these issues in past statements, though she avoided specifics in the recent podcast.
Looking ahead, Melinda French Gates is set to publish a book later this year on her experiences in philanthropy and personal growth. Bill Gates has upcoming projects on artificial intelligence ethics. For now, the couple's ability to move past their shared history will likely remain a private matter, observed through occasional public glimpses like this week's revelations.
In the end, Melinda's message is one of cautious optimism. As she navigates life post-divorce, her reflections serve as a reminder that even for the world's most influential figures, emotional recovery is a marathon, not a sprint.