Where is Melinda Gates Now? An Update on Bill Gates' Ex-Wife Who Wants To Hold Him Accountable for His Part in the Epstein Files

Melinda French Gates is publicly addressing painful reminders of her past marriage while continuing her life as a philanthropist, following renewed attention on Bill Gates' links to Jeffrey Epstein.

French Gates, former wife of Bill Gates, is publicly addressing news connected to her past marriage following newly released documents concerning her ex-husband's links to Epstein.

Documents from the United States Department of Justice have dragged Melinda French Gates into the public conversation surrounding her former husband and Epstein. These documents include drafted emails Epstein allegedly wrote to himself, in which he made claims about Bill Gates that the latter has firmly denied.

The material was made public last week. These emails claim that Gates, Microsoft's co-founder, had contracted an STI during an adulterous dalliance and was seeking Epstein's help.

One draft dated 18 July 2013 contains explicit language and claims that Epstein later repeated in private writings. A spokesperson for Bill Gates, now aged 70, described the claims as absolutely absurd and completely false.

Bill Gates' Response To Allegations

Gates' spokesperson said the documents show Epstein's frustration at failing to maintain a relationship with Gates and an attempt to defame him. Gates has previously described his meetings with Epstein as a mistake and said he was foolish to spend any time with him while seeking charitable support.

The spokesperson declined to comment further on Melinda French Gates' recent remarks and referred back to the earlier statement. Gates has consistently rejected Epstein's claims and dismissed them as false. No legal action has followed from the release of the emails.

Melinda French Gates Breaks Her Silence

Melinda French Gates addressed the issue during an appearance on NPR's Wild Card podcast, hosted by Rachel Martin. When asked directly about the new slew of Epstein files that name her former husband, she spoke about the harm caused by Epstein and the impact on women and girls. She described the revelations as deeply upsetting and said they brought back memories of very painful times in her marriage.

She stated that she has moved on from that period of her life. She also made clear that remaining questions are for those involved, including her ex-husband, to answer. Melinda said she is glad to be away from what she described as the muck surrounding those events.

Life After Divorce

Melinda and Bill Gates announced their divorce in May 2021 after 27 years of marriage. The divorce was finalised on 2 August 2021, and Melinda publicly resumed using the name Melinda French Gates. She did not request spousal support and was allocated more than £1.48 billion (approximately $2 billion) in shares and stocks, though full details were not disclosed.

She later revealed that she had been consulting divorce lawyers from at least October 2019, after Bill Gates' dealings with Epstein became public. In her memoir, The Next Day, she wrote about growing turmoil in the marriage during 2019 and 2020, including recurring nightmares. She also referenced Bill Gates' infidelity and his links to Epstein.

Where Melinda French Gates Is Now

Since the divorce, Melinda French Gates has focused on her philanthropic work through Pivotal Ventures. She described herself as having moved forward and said she hopes there will be justice for the women affected by Epstein. She also said the latest allegations brought her sadness, but that her focus remains on the harm done to the victims rather than herself.

She became a grandmother in March 2023 when her daughter Jennifer gave birth. In March 2022, Melinda said she and Bill were friendly but not friends, and they have appeared together at family events, including Jennifer's wedding in October 2021.

Personal Life And Looking Ahead

Melinda French Gates' personal life has also evolved since the divorce. She was reported to be dating former Fox News correspondent Jon Du Pre in November 2022, though that relationship ended by April 2024. In 2025, she went public with a new relationship with businessman Philip Vaughn and said she was very happy.