Melinda French Gates and Bill Gates’ divorce and their massive philanthropic ventures led her to speak out on political issues – as their children are developing into major players in Democratic politics.
The humanitarian, 60, said in a lengthy profile that it is liberating to no longer have to advocate for her ex-husband — the billionaire co-founder of Microsoft — or their Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
“Now I get to make the decision I want to make about whether to approve or not,” she said.
Her decisions since their split in 2021 and her departure from the foundation in 2024 have been inclusive announcing her intention to vote and raise money – currently to the tune of over $13 million – for Harris, along with her activist children.
It’s a stark contrast to 2016, when she said in an interview that she and her husband are “keeping private who we vote for” ahead of Hillary Clinton’s loss to Donald Trump.
Melinda French Gates’ (pictured with Michelle Obama) divorce from Bill Gates and their shared charities has led her to speak out on political issues such as abortion and support Kamala Harris for president
It’s a stark contrast to 2016, when she said in an interview that she and her husband are “keeping private who we vote for” ahead of Hillary Clinton’s loss to Donald Trump. Now she supports Harris and plans public events
“There were more considerations before the split because I was the head of a foundation,” she admits.
When asked how much donations would go to the Liberals this cycle, she said she “wouldn’t put a number on it.”
While anonymous Democrats told it New York Times they wish she had made her opinions (and money) known sooner. She’s embarking on a new era after demanding that the foundation she led appear bipartisan.
Previously, French Gates even donated to Republicans like Elise Stefanik or Shelley Moore Caputo, Republicans who are against abortion.
French Gates had previously said that abortion was also not on her agenda while running the foundation.
She claims the political turning point for her was a failed push for a guaranteed paid family leave law by Joe Biden in 2021.
A spokesperson for the Campaign For a Family Friendly Economy, which has received $3 million from her, said French Gates “saw that we had a political problem and that political problems require political solutions.”
Much of the donations are inspired by two of her three children, Rory and Phoebe, who have become liberal activists and donors.
Her decisions since their 2021 split and her departure from the foundation in 2024 include announcing her intention to vote and raise money – currently to the tune of more than $13 million – for Harris, along with her activist children.
Previously, French Gates even donated to Republicans like Elise Stefanik or Shelley Moore Caputo, Republicans who are against abortion
Son Rory, who she wrote in an op-ed that she raised as a feminist, is considered a figure for Democratic money movers, although he has also donated to Nikki Haley.
A Puk 2023 report called him a “rich target for Democratic social climbers, influence peddlers and money hunters of all kinds.”
French Gates says Rory ‘helped open my eyes and taught me more’ about his progressive values while working as a ‘congressional analyst’, according to Business insider.
Phoebe, one of her two daughters, also contributes to liberal causes in the six-figure range and has a social media presence as an influencer on abortion rights and sustainability, with 450,000 followers on the website. Instagram.
She has revealed she has lost friends over conspiracy theories about her billionaire father.
The billionaire Microsoft co-founder asked his daughter in a new Netflix docuseries if she’d ever come across conspiracy theories about him — including that the COVID pandemic was a ploy to allow Bill Gates to put microchips in vaccines that would allow him to to follow.
“Always,” Phoebe replied. “I’ve even had friends cut me off because of these vaccine rumors,” she said.
The 22-year-old reproductive rights activist recently graduated from Stanford University with a degree in human biology, and was invited to her father’s show as she was finishing up her senior year.
Son Rory, who she wrote in an op-ed that she raised as a feminist, is considered a figure for Democratic money movers, although he has also donated to Nikki Haley
Phoebe, one of her two daughters, also contributes to liberal causes in the six-figure range and has a social media presence as an influencer on abortion rights and sustainability, with 450,000 followers on Instagram
She said at the time that she was concerned about the ability to effectively communicate accurate health information as misinformation spreads online.
Earlier this year, when Joe Biden was still the Democratic nominee, she said women will make a difference in the 2024 presidential election as she reveals who she will vote for in November.
French Gates has long been associated with Democrats, with Barack Obama helping promote her book.
She sat down with Gayle King for an interview in which she discussed how she felt women were the key factor in deciding the 2022 midterm elections.
“Women came out in the midterm elections and said, ‘This is enough.’ And we have to do it again,” she said CBS News.
Gates – who claims to have a net worth of around $11 billion Forbes and is ready to be active in these elections – and then made it clear who she will support in 2024.
“I am definitely not voting for Trump, and I will be voting for Biden,” she said.
Billionaire Gates also said it is “more than likely” she will campaign for and support the current president.
Melinda Gates has said she is ‘absolutely not’ voting for Donald Trump and believes women will make a difference in the 2024 presidential election
However, when Harris replaced Biden at the top of the list, she became active about her money.
The Times reported that French Gates donated nearly the legal maximum of $929,600 to the Harris campaign in July after announcing her intention to run for office.
Since then, she has revealed more than $10 million in contributions to progressive groups like EMILY’s List and Women Vote, a huge increase from the largest donation she had ever made before 2022, $35,800.
French Gates also spoke personally with Harris about public events surrounding caregivers and parenting.
The philanthropist says she has voted for Republicans in the past, but Trump’s words about women and policies toward women are a dealbreaker.
Gates has criticized Trump in the past and condemned the Trump administration’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, saying a lack of leadership at the national level has led to “chaos” across the board.
The billionaire philanthropist, who co-chairs the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation with her Microsoft co-founder husband, didn’t mince words when asked to discuss the U.S. approach to the global health crisis in an interview.
“I’m both surprised we weren’t better prepared, but honestly, I’m also surprised we wasted so much time. That we haven’t had leadership at the national level to do testing the right way, protective equipment the right way, contact tracing the right way,” Gates said.
“In the absence of leadership, there are 50 homegrown state solutions, and it simply shouldn’t be that way.”
Her friendship with the Obamas includes a partnership with former First Lady Michelle to work to end child marriage.
However, the mum-of-three, who hasn’t had any public romances since her relationship with Jon was revealed in 2022, seemed more willing to hide the trinket during her latest outing – crossing her arms over her chest in what could very well have been are. an attempt to hide the dazzler from view.
Melinda and Bill separated in 2021 after nearly three decades of marriage.
The couple released a statement at the time of their split, revealing that it wasn’t just “one moment” that led to it.
Despite their estranged relationship, the pair of parents still seem to adore their children.