Bill Gates opens up about the ‘mistake’ that changed his life forever
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Regret is a powerful emotion, especially when it’s tied to life-altering decisions.
One of the world’s most recognisable figures has opened up about a mistake that continues to weigh heavily on him years later.
His candid reflections offer a rare glimpse into the personal struggles behind his public success.
Bill Gates revealed that his divorce from Melinda Gates after 27 years of marriage remains his greatest regret in life.
‘I’m more cheerful now,’ he said in an interview, but described the end of his marriage as ‘the mistake I most regret.’
The 69-year-old Microsoft co-founder acknowledged that while he had other failures, the divorce topped the list.
‘There are others but none that matter,’ he stated.
‘The divorce thing was miserable for me and Melinda for at least two years.’
The couple announced their split in 2021, but they had already been separated for a year prior to the announcement.
They have maintained an amicable relationship since their divorce, with both now dating other people.
‘Melinda and I still see each other — we have three kids and two grandchildren, so there are family events. The kids are doing well. They have good values,’ Gates added.
Bill and Melinda, who tied the knot in 1994, share three children: Jennifer, 28, Rory, 25, and Phoebe, 22.
The billionaire credited their marriage with keeping him ‘grounded’ as he built his trillion-dollar company.
Melinda, 60, previously said that being separated during the Covid pandemic helped her realise the state of their relationship.
‘It gave us the privacy to do what needed to be done in private,’ she said in a June 2024 interview.
While she admitted the split was the ‘healthier choice’, Melinda called it the ‘lowest moment’ of her life.
She reportedly walked away with $US76 billion (approximately $120 billion AUD) in the divorce.
In a 2022 interview with Savannah Guthrie, Bill admitted to causing pain when questioned about a report regarding an affair with a Microsoft employee.
‘I certainly made mistakes, and I take responsibility,’ he said.
‘I don’t think delving into the particulars at this point is constructive, but yes, I caused pain, and I feel terrible about that.’
Melinda, however, pointed to Bill’s association with convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein as another factor that contributed to their split.
‘I did not like that he had meetings with Jeffrey Epstein, no. I made that clear to him,’ she told Gayle King in 2022.
‘He was abhorrent. He was evil personified.’
Gates later called his dealings with Epstein a ‘mistake’.
Since their divorce, both have moved on with new partners.
Melinda went public with her relationship with entrepreneur Philip Vaughn in October 2024, when the pair were spotted holding hands during a dinner outing in New York City.
Meanwhile, Gates has been dating Paula Hurd, the widow of Oracle CEO Mark Hurd, since 2023.
Can true personal growth only come after facing our deepest regrets? Is it possible to move forward without looking back?
Share your thoughts in the comments below!
One of the world’s most recognisable figures has opened up about a mistake that continues to weigh heavily on him years later.
His candid reflections offer a rare glimpse into the personal struggles behind his public success.
Bill Gates revealed that his divorce from Melinda Gates after 27 years of marriage remains his greatest regret in life.
‘I’m more cheerful now,’ he said in an interview, but described the end of his marriage as ‘the mistake I most regret.’
The 69-year-old Microsoft co-founder acknowledged that while he had other failures, the divorce topped the list.
‘There are others but none that matter,’ he stated.
‘The divorce thing was miserable for me and Melinda for at least two years.’
The couple announced their split in 2021, but they had already been separated for a year prior to the announcement.
They have maintained an amicable relationship since their divorce, with both now dating other people.
‘Melinda and I still see each other — we have three kids and two grandchildren, so there are family events. The kids are doing well. They have good values,’ Gates added.
Bill and Melinda, who tied the knot in 1994, share three children: Jennifer, 28, Rory, 25, and Phoebe, 22.
The billionaire credited their marriage with keeping him ‘grounded’ as he built his trillion-dollar company.
Melinda, 60, previously said that being separated during the Covid pandemic helped her realise the state of their relationship.
‘It gave us the privacy to do what needed to be done in private,’ she said in a June 2024 interview.
While she admitted the split was the ‘healthier choice’, Melinda called it the ‘lowest moment’ of her life.
She reportedly walked away with $US76 billion (approximately $120 billion AUD) in the divorce.
In a 2022 interview with Savannah Guthrie, Bill admitted to causing pain when questioned about a report regarding an affair with a Microsoft employee.
‘I certainly made mistakes, and I take responsibility,’ he said.
‘I don’t think delving into the particulars at this point is constructive, but yes, I caused pain, and I feel terrible about that.’
Melinda, however, pointed to Bill’s association with convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein as another factor that contributed to their split.
‘I did not like that he had meetings with Jeffrey Epstein, no. I made that clear to him,’ she told Gayle King in 2022.
‘He was abhorrent. He was evil personified.’
Gates later called his dealings with Epstein a ‘mistake’.
Since their divorce, both have moved on with new partners.
Melinda went public with her relationship with entrepreneur Philip Vaughn in October 2024, when the pair were spotted holding hands during a dinner outing in New York City.
Meanwhile, Gates has been dating Paula Hurd, the widow of Oracle CEO Mark Hurd, since 2023.
Can true personal growth only come after facing our deepest regrets? Is it possible to move forward without looking back?
Share your thoughts in the comments below!
