Billionaire philanthropist Melinda French Gates has announced her resignation as co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, a decision she described as not taken lightly. In a statement posted on X, Ms. Gates revealed that her last day of work will be on June 7th.
Ms. Gates, who co-founded the foundation in 2000 with her then-husband Bill Gates, the Microsoft co-founder, has been a driving force behind the organization’s efforts to eradicate infectious diseases, reduce poverty, and combat climate change. The foundation, with an endowment of over $75 billion, is among the most powerful groups in public health.
Despite their separation in 2021 after 27 years of marriage, the former couple had pledged to continue their joint philanthropic work as co-chairs and trustees of the foundation. However, Ms. Gates will now be stepping down from her role to focus on her own charitable work on women and families, with an additional $12.5 billion at her disposal under an agreement with Mr. Gates.
In her statement, Ms. Gates expressed pride in the foundation they built together and highlighted the critical need for support for women and girls in the US and around the world. She founded investment company Pivotal Ventures in 2015, a separate entity from the Gates Foundation, focusing on removing barriers to opportunity for women and minority groups.
Mr. Gates expressed his regret at seeing Ms. Gates leave but expressed confidence in her future philanthropic endeavors. As one of the world’s richest men, with a net worth exceeding $130.3 billion, according to Forbes, Mr. Gates will continue his work with the foundation while Ms. Gates’ fortune is listed at $11.3 billion. The philanthropic world will be watching closely to see the impact of Ms. Gates’ next chapter in charitable giving.
