Melinda Gates left her ex-husband, Bill Gates, over trust issues.
The philanthropist reflected on what she “learned about marriage” during an appearance on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” on Monday — nearly four years after she divorced the Microsoft co-founder.
“I learned, you know, to have a trusted relationship — which is what I wanted in a marriage — both partners have to be honest with one another,” she said.
“And if you can’t, you can’t have intimacy and you can’t have trust. And so, in the end, I had to go.”

Melinda Gates spoke about her divorce from Bill Gates during Monday’s episode of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” Scott Kowalchyk/CBS

She explained that she needed her partner to be “honest” with her. TheLateShowwithStephenColbert/CBS
Stephen Colbert then asked Melinda, 60, whether she is dating again.
“I am,” she said while blushing. “It’s been pretty great. It’s been pretty great.”
Melinda did not discuss her current relationship, but Page Six confirmed last year that she was seeing businessman Philip Vaughn.

“In the end, I had to go,” the philanthropist shared. Scott Kowalchyk/CBS

Melinda blushed while teasing that her new relationship has been “pretty great.” TheLateShowwithStephenColbert/CBS
She previously shared that she separated from Bill, 69, over his infidelity and connection to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
“I did not like that he had meetings with Jeffrey Epstein, no. I made that clear to [Bill],” Melinda said in a 2022 interview with “CBS Mornings,” adding, “[Epstein] was abhorrent. He was evil personified. My heart breaks for these women.”
Bill later admitted to the Wall Street Journal that he was “foolish” to have spent time with Epstein, who died by suicide in jail in 2019, and called their interactions a “huge mistake.”

The Microsoft co-founder and Melinda announced their divorce in 2021. Getty Images

Bill faced allegations of infidelity shortly after. AP
News broke in 2021 that Bill allegedly had an affair with a Microsoft employee.
The following year, he cryptically confessed to making “mistakes” in his marriage.
“I don’t think delving into the particulars at this point is constructive, but yes, I caused pain, and I feel terrible about that,” he said on the “Today” show in 2022.

Bill later confessed that he “caused pain.” REUTERS

Melinda shares details from her divorce in her new memoir, “The Next Day.” CBS via Getty Images
The Gateses’ divorce has been making headlines again while Melinda promotes her new memoir, “The Next Day.”
“Look, divorces are painful, and it’s not something I would wish on any family,” she told Elle last month during her press tour.
Melinda reiterated that her decision to leave Bill was one of the “hardest” but “most important” she has ever made.

Melinda wrote about telling Bill she wanted to separate during a trip to New Mexico in 2020. Getty Images for Robin Hood

She called their divorce “painful.” AFP via Getty Images
In her book, the activist described the moment she told Bill she wanted a divorce while they were on a trip to New Mexico in 2020.
“It was one of the scariest conversations I’d have had,” she wrote, describing Bill’s reaction as “sad and upset” but also “understanding and respectful.”
The former couple did not publicly announce their split until 2021 when they released a joint statement.

The exes finalized their divorce later in 2021. Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images

They share three kids: daughters Jennifer, 28, and Phoebe, 22, and son Rory, 25. melindafrenchgates/Instagram
Melinda shared in “The Next Day” that her divorce was “grueling” at first while she and Bill worked out a settlement.
“Bill has a reputation for being one of the toughest negotiators in the world,” she explained.
The exes, who tied the knot in 1994, share three kids: daughters Jennifer, 28, and Phoebe, 22, and son Rory, 25.
News
I watched my ex-husband’s engagement party stop breathing the second I walked in pregnant with triplets beside a man far more powerful than him.
You keep staring at Fernando Castillo’s photograph on the laptop screen long after the old fan in the rented room begins to rattle like loose bones in the ceiling. There is something almost offensive about how composed he looks in…
I saw a homeless man wearing my missing son’s jacket — and I decided to follow him.
The last time I saw Daniel, the house was full of morning light. It streamed through the tall kitchen windows in pale winter bands, illuminating the floating dust in the air and turning the steam from my coffee into…
My neighbor turned my garden into her dumpster—so I brought her a GIFT she’ll never forget.
People see the wheelchair before they see me. They always do. It rolls into view first—quiet, metal, practical. A machine that announces limitation before a man even opens his mouth. And once they’ve noticed it, everything else becomes secondary. My…
SIX WORDS IN A U.S. HEARING JUST REOPENED ONE OF AMERICA’S DARKEST UNANSWERED QUESTIONS.
The six woгds thɑt fгoze the гoom: Keппedy coгпeгs Boпdi oveг Epsteiп’s deɑth — ɑпd heг ɑпsweг oпly deepeпs the mysteгy A heɑгiпg гoom goes still It wɑs just six woгds. But iп thɑt pɑcked coпgгessioпɑl heɑгiпg гoom, they lɑпded…
He looked me in the eye, ordered me to erase my brother’s disaster, and expected me to say yes
PART 1 – The Table Already Set By the time Kesha Williams turned onto her parents’ block on the South Side, the sky had the color of old pewter, and the wind coming off the lake had sharpened into something…
THEY FORGOT I HAD ALREADY COUNTED EVERY DOLLAR THEY EVER TOOK FROM ME.
PART 1 – Immersive Opening & Emotional Hook By the time Kesha Williams turned onto her parents’ block on the South Side, dusk had already begun to settle over Chicago in that blue-gray way that made every house seem to…
End of content
No more pages to load