Recently, Microsoft founder Bill Gates said in an interview with the US media that he did make mistakes in marriage and was responsible.
Image source: Visual China
Gates confessed to marital infidelity
According to the surging news, on May 3, local time, while talking with Savannah Guthrie, the host of "Today", Gates was asked, "Are you unfaithful to marriage?" Is this one of the reasons for divorce? ”
"I did make a mistake and I'm responsible." Microsoft founder Bill Gates responded to allegations of marital infidelity a year after divorcing his wife of 27 years.
Gates added, "I don't think it's constructive to delve into the details at this point, but yeah, I've caused pain and I'm bad about it." Bill Gates and Melinda Gates announced their divorce in May 2021, which was completed in August of that year, and they have since continued to run the Gates Foundation together.
In March, Melinda also gave an interview to CBS about how the marriage had left her "tear-stained face for many days" and recalled lying on the carpet with only thoughts in her head, "How is this possible?" How can I get out of bed? What should I do in the future? ”
In the Interview with Today, Gates also said positively that listening to Melinda's sadness in the CBS interview is also a difficult thing for him, "It was a very difficult thing. We have a lot of great things in our marriages: kids, the fun we have. So it's a very tough adjustment. ”
Melinda responded to Gates' 20-year-old affair after the divorce decision was announced, "Of course I believe in forgiveness and forgiveness, so I think we've solved part of the problem." This thing did not happen suddenly at a certain time, nor did it happen because of a specific fuse. It was only at some point in time that I realized that the state was not right. ”
As for whether Gates had multiple extramarital affairs, Melinda only said, "This is a question that Bill needs to answer." ”
Asked about hearing his ex-wife say how it felt like to be divorced for the first time in March, Bill said it was "a very tough thing to do".
"It's a very tough adjustment," he said. "I know divorce is different, but it's a radical change. We're partners, we grew up together, and now it's different. ”
GATES: I really shouldn't have met Epstein
In addition to the affair, Melinda also talked about Epstein, who had made it clear to Gates that she didn't like his association with Epstein. Melinda had met Epstein once, "I wanted to see who this man was, and from the moment I stepped in the door, I regretted it." ”
Gates first met American billionaire Epstein in 2011 after the financier was convicted in 2008 for soliciting sex from minors. In August 2019, Epstein was accused of setting up a network of underage women to conduct sex trafficking, after which he died mysteriously while awaiting trial in prison.
Guthrie, the host of "Today," explicitly asked Gates in an interview, "Why do you continue to meet with him?" By the time you met him, he was already a convicted sex offender. Do you regret it? ”
Gates replied, "I undoubtedly made a huge mistake, not only to meet him for the first time, but to see him many times. My goal was to raise money for global health, and I didn't realize that in meeting him, he almost downplayed the incredibly terrible things he had done. ”
"Including Melinda's advice is reasonable and I should have followed it earlier." Gates said adding this mistake to his "big mistake list" was" and "he was a bad guy, but I had reason to think these meetings would lead to good results." I really shouldn't have met him. ”
How property is distributed after divorce
It is still not public
Although Gates and Melinda have been divorced for a year, the way their property was distributed after the divorce has not been made public.
On May 3 last year, Gates and his wife Melinda announced that they would end their 27-year marriage, according to China News Network. The duo said in a statement that they would continue to work together on the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, "but in the next phase of life, continuing the marital relationship can no longer allow us to advance together." ”
It is reported that in half a month after the divorce, Melinda has received more than $3 billion in assets.
Cascade Investment, an investment firm founded by Gates, transferred 2.25 million shares of Deere, worth about $851 million, to Melinda, plus previous equity interests in Coca-Cola Vansa Bottle (FEMSA), National Railways of Canada and others, Melinda has received more than $3 billion in assets, the documents show.
According to a previous report by the network, according to the divorce petition filed by Melinda in King County, Washington State, which was obtained by "People", Melinda and Gates did not sign a prenuptial agreement, and they will divide their assets according to the separation agreement.
That means Bill Gates could have to give Melinda half of his $145 billion fortune. After the division is completed, Melinda is expected to become the second richest woman in the world.
Washington State is one of nine U.S. states that practice a joint marital property system, which means that most of the property acquired during the marriage of two people, which together belong to the couple, will be divided equally in the event of divorce.
While the details of the couple's financial situation after their divorce are unclear, one thing is certain that none of their vast fortunes will fall into the pockets of their three children.
The Gates decided in 2011 not to let their children inherit the inheritance, explaining that the children should go their own way, and that leaving them huge amounts of wealth would cause them to be blinded by money and not cherish their future.
It is worth mentioning that according to CCTV Finance, Bill Gates and Melinda Gates have previously promised with Buffett and others that they will donate more than half of their personal property.
Edited | Duan Lian, Du Hengfeng, Wang Jiaqi
Proofreading | Lu Xiangyong
Daily economic news is synthesized from the surging news, China News Network, per economic network, public information, etc