Melinda French Gates: Difference between revisions

Melinda French Gates
Melinda French Gates
	French Gates in 2012
Born	Melinda Ann French; August 15, 1964 (age 60); Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Education	Duke University (BA, MBA)
Occupations	Co-founder and former co-chair, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Founder, Pivotal Ventures;
Spouse	Bill Gates (m. 1994; div. 2021)
Children	3
Awards	Presidential Medal of Freedom (2016);
Website	Profile

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Melinda French Gates^[2] (born Melinda Ann French; August 15, 1964) is an American philanthropist and a former multimedia product developer and manager at Microsoft. Born and raised in Dallas, Texas, she graduated from Duke University and started working at Microsoft in 1987. Shortly afterwards, she began dating the company's co-founder and then-CEO Bill Gates, whom she married in 1994. In 2000, she and Gates co-founded the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the world's largest private charitable organization.^[3] The couple, who have three children together, divorced in 2021. In 2024, she resigned from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to pursue philanthropy independently, having received $12.5 billion for charitable work as part of her separation agreement.^[4]

Forbes magazine has consistently ranked French Gates as one of the world's most powerful women.^[5] She and her ex-husband have received numerous awards and honors for their charitable work, including the US Presidential Medal of Freedom and the French Legion of Honour. She was recognized as one of the BBC's 100 women of 2021.^[6]

Early life and education

Melinda Ann French was born on August 15, 1964, in Dallas, Texas.^[7]^[8]^[9] She is the second of four children born to Raymond Joseph French Jr., an aerospace engineer, and Elaine Agnes Amerland, a homemaker. She has an older sister and two younger brothers.^[10]

French, a Catholic, attended St. Monica Catholic School, where she was the valedictorian of her class.^[11]^[12] At age 14, French was introduced to the Apple II by her father and Mrs. Bauer, a school teacher who advocated teaching computer science at the all-girls school.^[13] It was from this experience she developed her interest in computer games and the BASIC programming language.^[14]

French graduated as valedictorian from Ursuline Academy of Dallas in 1982.^[15] She earned a bachelor's degree in computer science and economics from Duke University in 1986 and an MBA from Duke's Fuqua School of Business in 1987.^[16] At Duke, French was a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, Beta Rho Chapter.^[17]

Career

French Gates's first job was tutoring children in mathematics and computer programming.^[18] After graduation, she became a marketing manager with Microsoft, being responsible for the development of multimedia products.^[19] These included Cinemania, Encarta, Publisher, Microsoft Bob, Money, Works (Macintosh) and Word.^[19]^[20] She worked on Expedia, which became one of the most popular travel booking websites. In the early 1990s, French Gates was appointed as General Manager of Information Products, a position which she held until 1996.^[21]^[22] She left Microsoft that year, reportedly, to focus on starting a family.^[21]

French Gates served as a member of Duke University's board of trustees from 1996 to 2003.^[23] She attends the annual Bilderberg Group conference and has held a seat on the board of directors of Graham Holdings (formerly The Washington Post Company) since 2004.^[24] She was also on the board of directors at Drugstore.com but left in August 2006 to focus on philanthropic projects.^[25]^[22] Since 2000, French Gates has been in the public eye, stating "As I thought about strong women of history, I realized that they stepped out in some way."^[19] This has allowed her work shaping and advancing the goals of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to be publicly recognized. By 2022, Bill and Melinda had given US$59.1 billion of their personal wealth to the foundation.^[26] In 2015, French Gates founded Pivotal Ventures as a separate, independent organization to identify and implement innovative solutions to problems affecting U.S. women and families.^[27] On May 13, 2024, French Gates resigned as co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, to be effective June 7.^[28]^[29]

Writing

In 2019, French Gates debuted as an author with the book The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World. Former president Barack Obama starred in a comedy sketch in order to promote it.^[30]^[31] The book highlights the failure to acknowledge women's unpaid work, drawing on feminist economist Dame Marilyn Waring's book If Women Counted.^[32]

Personal life

Melinda began dating Microsoft CEO Bill Gates in 1987, after meeting him at a trade fair in New York.^[7]^[33] In 1994, she married Gates in a private ceremony held in Lanai, Hawaii. They have three children: daughters Jennifer Gates Nassar (born 1996) and Phoebe Gates (born 2002) and son Rory Gates (born 1999).^[34] The family maintained a home in an earth-sheltered mansion overlooking Lake Washington in Medina, Washington.^[35] The family also owned an oceanfront residence in Del Mar, California.^[36]^[37]

In May 2021, Bill and Melinda Gates announced their decision to divorce after 27 years of marriage.^[38] According to The Wall Street Journal, Melinda Gates had been meeting with divorce lawyers since at least October 2019, after Bill's business dealings with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein became public.^[39]^[40]^[41] Although the couple did not have a prenuptial agreement,^[41] Melinda Gates (who filed) did not request spousal support.^[40] She was allocated over $2 billion worth of shares and stocks from the divorce,^[42] although the full details of the financial settlement have not been disclosed.^[43] The divorce was finalized on August 2, 2021.^[1] She has publicly used the name Melinda French Gates since the couple separated.^[43]

In October 2021, Melinda and Bill both attended the wedding of their eldest daughter Jennifer to Olympic equestrian Nayel Nassar.^[44] In March 2022, Melinda said that she and Bill were "friendly" but not "friends".^[45] In November 2022, she was reported to be dating former Fox News correspondent Jon Du Pre. In April 2024, a spokesperson quashed rumors that French Gates and Du Pre had become engaged, confirming that the two were no longer dating.^[46]^[47] French Gates became a grandmother for the first time in March 2023 when Jennifer gave birth to a daughter.^[48]

After the divorce, the now independently wealthy French Gates has become a prominent megadonor to the Democratic Party, with a focus on abortion rights. She donated over $10 million to Democratic causes in the time leading up to the 2024 US presidential election.^[49] In that election, she endorsed Joe Biden and then, after he stepped aside, Kamala Harris, her first presidential endorsements.^[50]^[51]

French Gates is a practicing Catholic.^[49]

Awards and recognition

In 1998, Melinda and Bill Gates were each honored with an American Library Association Honorary Membership. In 2002, Melinda and Bill Gates received the Award for Greatest Public Service Benefiting the Disadvantaged, an award given out annually by Jefferson Awards.^[52] In December 2005, Melinda and Bill were named by Time as Persons of the Year alongside Bono.^[53]^[54] Melinda and Bill Gates received the Spanish Prince of Asturias Award for International Cooperation on May 4, 2006, in recognition of their world impact through charitable giving.^[55] In November 2006, French Gates was awarded the Insignia of the Order of the Aztec Eagle, together with Bill, who was awarded the Placard of the same order, both for their philanthropic work around the world in the areas of health and education, particularly in Mexico, and specifically in the program "Un país de lectores".^[56]

In May 2006, in honor of her work to improve the lives of children locally and around the world, Seattle Children's Hospital dedicated the Melinda French Gates Ambulatory Care building^[57] at Seattle Children's (formerly Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center).^[58] She chaired a campaign for the hospital to fundraise $300 million to expand facilities, fund under-compensated and uncompensated care, and grow the hospital's research program to find cures and treatments.^[59]

In 2007, French Gates received an honorary doctorate in medicine from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden.^[60] In 2009, she and her then-husband received honorary degrees from the University of Cambridge. Their benefaction of $210 million in 2000 set up the Gates Cambridge Trust, which funds postgraduate scholars from outside the UK to study at the university.^[61]^[62] Lastly, she was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters by Duke University in 2013 in honor of her philanthropic commitment.

She has been repeatedly recognized by Forbes in its annual list of the 100 Most Powerful Women,^[63] ranking #3 in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2017, #4 in 2012 and 2016, #5 in 2020 and 2021, and #6 in 2011, 2018, 2019 and 2022, #10 in 2023.^[64] She was awarded the UCSF medal in 2013.^[65] French Gates was appointed an honorary Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 2013 for services to philanthropy and international development.^[66] In recognition of the foundation's philanthropic activities in India, Bill and Melinda jointly received India's third-highest civilian honor, Padma Bhushan, in 2015.^[67] In 2016, President Barack Obama awarded French Gates and her husband with the Presidential Medal of Freedom for their philanthropic efforts.^[68]

In 2017, President François Hollande awarded France's highest national honor to French Gates and her husband for their charitable efforts, i.e. as Commander of the Legion of Honour.^[69] That year, she was awarded the Otto Hahn Peace Medal 2016 of the United Nations Association of Germany (DGVN), Berlin-Brandenburg, "for outstanding services to peace and international understanding" in the historic Berlin Town Hall.^[70]^[71] That year, French Gates was listed by UK-based company Richtopia at number 12 in the list of 200 Most Influential Philanthropists and Social Entrepreneurs Worldwide.^[72]^[73] In June 2024, she delivered the Commencement address at Stanford University.^[74]

Women in technology

French Gates's experience of a male-dominated workplace at Microsoft inspired her to encourage more women in the computing field.^[75] In September 2016, she announced her desire to increase diversity in the workplace, especially in the technology industry, stating: "Every company needs technology, and yet we're graduating fewer women technologists. That is not good for society. We have to change it."^[76] French Gates also spoke about this topic at the 2017 Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing, an annual series of conferences.^[77] She was recognized as one of the BBC's 100 women of 2021.^[6]

Published works

The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World (2019) ISBN 978-1-250-31357-7

References

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^ "Melinda Gates goes public (pg. 2)" Archived May 1, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, cnn.com, January 7, 2008.
^ Jeanne M. Lesinski (2009). Bill Gates: Entrepreneur and Philanthropist. Twenty First Century Books. p. 61. ISBN 978-1-58013-570-2. Retrieved March 10, 2011. Melinda, a devout Catholic, wanted a religious wedding
^ Business Week, Issues 3649–3652. McGraw-Hill. 1999. Archived from the original on September 12, 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2011. Raised a Roman Catholic and educated at a girls' Catholic high school, Ursaline Academy in Dallas, Melinda was encouraged to pursue her love of science
^ Gates, Melinda (2021). The Moment of Lift : How Empowering Women Changes the World. Flatiron Books. ISBN 978-1-250-25772-7. OCLC 1097579369. Archived from the original on September 12, 2021. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
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External links

Profile at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Appearances on C-SPAN
Melinda French Gates on Charlie Rose
Melinda French Gates at TED
Melinda French Gates at IMDb
Melinda French Gates collected news and commentary at The New York Times
Melinda Gates Goes Public, Fortune magazine, January 4, 2008
Melinda Gates Philanthropic Profile Archived February 19, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, GiveSmart.org, November 2012
Melinda Gates Archived December 1, 2017, at the Wayback Machine Video produced by Makers: Women Who Make America

[CNBC20210802-1] Novet, Jordan (August 2, 2021). "Bill and Melinda French Gates are officially divorced following 27-year marriage". CNBC. Archived from the original on August 3, 2021. Retrieved August 3, 2021.

[2] King County Superior Court Clerk (May 3, 2021). "Gates Petition for Divorce" (PDF). TMZ. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 12, 2021. Retrieved June 6, 2021 – via The Washington Post.

[3] Mathiesen, Karl (March 16, 2015). "What is the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation?". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on April 25, 2016. Retrieved February 25, 2020.

[4] Goldman, David (May 13, 2024). "Melinda French Gates is resigning from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation". CNN. Retrieved September 4, 2024.

[The_World-5] "Power Women". Forbes. Archived from the original on March 19, 2019. Retrieved March 13, 2019.

[:3-6] "BBC 100 Women 2021: Who is on the list this year?". BBC News. December 7, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2022.

[:0-7] "Office romance: how Bill met Melinda". The Independent. October 23, 2011. Archived from the original on May 24, 2021. Retrieved May 24, 2021.

[8] "Melinda Gates biography". biography.com. A&E Television Networks. March 15, 2018. Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved May 24, 2021.

[9] Harris, Paul (November 25, 2006). "A woman of substance". The Guardian. Archived from the original on August 7, 2017. Retrieved May 24, 2021. Melinda Ann French was born in Dallas on 15 August 1964.

[10] "Melinda Gates goes public (pg. 2)" Archived May 1, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, cnn.com, January 7, 2008.

[Catholic_2-11] Jeanne M. Lesinski (2009). Bill Gates: Entrepreneur and Philanthropist. Twenty First Century Books. p. 61. ISBN 978-1-58013-570-2. Retrieved March 10, 2011. Melinda, a devout Catholic, wanted a religious wedding

[Catholic_1-12] Business Week, Issues 3649–3652. McGraw-Hill. 1999. Archived from the original on September 12, 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2011. Raised a Roman Catholic and educated at a girls' Catholic high school, Ursaline Academy in Dallas, Melinda was encouraged to pursue her love of science

[13] Gates, Melinda (2021). The Moment of Lift : How Empowering Women Changes the World. Flatiron Books. ISBN 978-1-250-25772-7. OCLC 1097579369. Archived from the original on September 12, 2021. Retrieved March 12, 2021.

[14] "Office romance: how Bill met Melinda". The Independent. June 27, 2008. Archived from the original on September 29, 2018. Retrieved March 13, 2019.

[15] "Ursuline Receives Additional $2 Million Grant; Science, Math, Technology Building Task Force is Formed". Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Archived from the original on September 23, 2017. Retrieved September 22, 2017.

[StangeOyster2013-16] Mary Zeiss Stange; Carol K. Oyster; Jane E. Sloan (January 9, 2013). The Multimedia Encyclopedia of Women in Today's World. SAGE Publications. pp. 386–. ISBN 978-1-4522-7037-1. Archived from the original on September 12, 2019. Retrieved March 24, 2018.

[17] "The incredible life of Melinda Gates — one of the world's richest and most powerful women". November 1, 2017. Archived from the original on March 25, 2018. Retrieved March 24, 2018.

[18] Staff, Fast Company (January 9, 2017). "How Melinda Gates Is Diversifying Tech". Fast Company. Archived from the original on December 18, 2019. Retrieved March 13, 2019.

[:1-19] Small, Cathleen (2017). Melinda Gates : Philanthropist and Education Advocate. New York, NY: Cavendish Square Publishing LLC. ISBN 978-1-5026-2708-7. OCLC 1039680502.

[20] "Office Romance: How Bill met Melinda". The Independent. 2008. Archived from the original on September 29, 2018. Retrieved January 10, 2019.

[:2-21] Honders, Christine (July 15, 2016). Melinda Gates. New York: PowerKids Press. p. 8. ISBN 978-1-5081-4832-6. OCLC 921141343. Archived from the original on September 12, 2021. Retrieved August 15, 2020.

[Melinda_Gates_Biography-22] "Melinda Gates". gatesfoundation.org. Gates Foundation. Archived from the original on March 15, 2021. Retrieved March 13, 2019.

[23] Gates Joins Trustees Archived August 2, 2012, at archive.today, Fuqua.duke.edu; retrieved June 29, 2013.

[24] "Melinda French Gates Elected a Director of The Washington Post Company". Graham Holdings Company. Archived from the original on August 3, 2020. Retrieved March 14, 2019.

[25] "Officers and Directors". Drugstore.com. 2005. Archived from the original on February 7, 2006. Retrieved February 14, 2008.

[FactSheet-26] "Foundation Fact Sheet". Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

[27] Pivotal Ventures-Who we are Archived April 18, 2020, at the Wayback Machine, pivotalventures.org; retrieved April 17, 2020.

[28] "Melinda French Gates says she is resigning from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation". KOMO. May 13, 2024. Retrieved May 13, 2024.

[CNN-resignation-29] Goldman, David (May 13, 2024). "Melinda French Gates is resigning from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation". CNN. Retrieved May 13, 2024.

[30] Darrisaw, Michelle (May 10, 2019). "Barack Obama Is the Ultimate Funny Guy in a Video Made for Melinda Gates". Oprah Magazine. Archived from the original on May 13, 2019. Retrieved May 13, 2019.

[31] "Melinda Gates draws huge crowd for hometown finale of 'Moment of Lift' tour, with surprise intro". GeekWire. May 10, 2019. Archived from the original on May 10, 2019. Retrieved May 13, 2019.

[abcnews-32] "Book excerpt: Melinda Gates' 'The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World'". ABC News. April 23, 2019. Archived from the original on April 20, 2021. Retrieved January 29, 2021.

[33] "Profile: Bill Gates". BBC News. January 26, 2004. Archived from the original on July 21, 2012. Retrieved April 27, 2007.

[34] Bose, Áine Cain, Debanjali. "Inside the life of Bill Gates' daughter Jennifer, an elite equestrian who stands to inherit 'a minuscule portion' of her father's $110 billion fortune and is engaged to accomplished Egyptian equestrian Nayel Nassar". Business Insider. Archived from the original on April 23, 2020. Retrieved April 20, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

[35] "Peek inside Bill Gates' $124 million mansion Xanadu 2.0 – Take a look at Bill Gates' new house". The Economic Times. December 16, 2016. Archived from the original on October 7, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2020.

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@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 {{Infobox person
 | name               = Melinda French Gates
-| image              = [[file:GA275589 Melinda Gates 0001.jpg|250px]]
+| image              = Melinda Gates, speaking at the London Summit on Family Planning crop.jpg
-| caption            = French Gates in 2023
+| caption            = French Gates in 2012
 | birth_name         = Melinda Ann French
 | birth_date         = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1964|08|15}}
@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 | education          = [[Duke University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]], [[MBA]])
 | occupation         = {{plainlist|
-* Co-Chair and Founder, [[Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation]]
+* Co-founder and former co-chair, [[Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation]]
 * Founder, Pivotal Ventures
 }}
@@ Line 23: / Line 23: @@
 }}
-'''Melinda French Gates'''<ref>{{cite web |author1=King County Superior Court Clerk |title=Gates Petition for Divorce |url=https://dam.tmz.com/document/96/o/2021/05/03/9614c3c36f7c48d6aab9ec0c7e7f8932.pdf |publisher=[[TMZ]] |via=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=June 6, 2021 |date=May 3, 2021 |archive-date=May 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512172812/https://dam.tmz.com/document/96/o/2021/05/03/9614c3c36f7c48d6aab9ec0c7e7f8932.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> (born '''Melinda Ann French'''; August 15, 1964) is an American philanthropist, former multimedia product developer and manager at [[Microsoft]], and the ex-wife of its co-founder and billionaire [[Bill Gates]].<ref name="Melinda French Gates">{{cite web | last=Gates | first=Melinda French | title=Melinda French Gates | website=Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation | date=September 19, 2018 | url=https://www.gatesfoundation.org/about/leadership/melinda-gates | access-date=December 23, 2022}}</ref> French Gates has consistently been ranked as one of the world's most powerful women by ''[[Forbes]]'' magazine.<ref name="The World">{{Cite web|title=Power Women|url=https://www.forbes.com/lists/power-women/#3d5d9f225a95|access-date=March 13, 2019|work=Forbes|archive-date=March 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190319123118/https://www.forbes.com/lists/power-women/#3d5d9f225a95|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2000, she and her then-husband Bill Gates co-founded the [[Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation]], the world's largest private charitable organization.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mathiesen |first=Karl |date=March 16, 2015 |title=What is the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation? |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/mar/16/what-is-the-bill-and-melinda-gates-foundation |access-date=February 25, 2020 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=April 25, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160425035020/http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/mar/16/what-is-the-bill-and-melinda-gates-foundation |url-status=live }}</ref> She and her ex-husband have been awarded the US [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]] and the French [[Legion of Honour]]. In early May 2021, Bill and Melinda Gates announced they were getting divorced.<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 July 2021 |title=Gates Foundation sets 2-year, post-divorce power share trial |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/bill-melinda-gates-run-foundation-jointly-divorce-78711937 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210707160525/https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/bill-melinda-gates-run-foundation-jointly-divorce-78711937 |archive-date=7 July 2021 |website=[[ABC News]]}}</ref> She was recognized as one of the [[100 Women (BBC)|BBC's 100 women of 2021]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |date=December 7, 2021 |title=BBC 100 Women 2021: Who is on the list this year? |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-59514598 |access-date=December 16, 2022}}</ref>
+'''Melinda French Gates'''<ref>{{cite web |author1=King County Superior Court Clerk |title=Gates Petition for Divorce |url=https://dam.tmz.com/document/96/o/2021/05/03/9614c3c36f7c48d6aab9ec0c7e7f8932.pdf |publisher=[[TMZ]] |via=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=June 6, 2021 |date=May 3, 2021 |archive-date=May 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512172812/https://dam.tmz.com/document/96/o/2021/05/03/9614c3c36f7c48d6aab9ec0c7e7f8932.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> (born '''Melinda Ann French'''; August 15, 1964) is an American philanthropist and a former multimedia product developer and manager at [[Microsoft]]. Born and raised in [[Dallas]], Texas, she graduated from [[Duke University]] and started working at Microsoft in 1987. Shortly afterwards, she began dating the company's co-founder and then-CEO [[Bill Gates]], whom she married in 1994. In 2000, she and Gates co-founded the [[Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation]], the world's largest private charitable organization.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mathiesen |first=Karl |date=March 16, 2015 |title=What is the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation? |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/mar/16/what-is-the-bill-and-melinda-gates-foundation |access-date=February 25, 2020 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=April 25, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160425035020/http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/mar/16/what-is-the-bill-and-melinda-gates-foundation |url-status=live }}</ref> The couple, who have three children together, divorced in 2021. In 2024, she resigned from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to pursue philanthropy independently, having received $12.5 billion for charitable work as part of her separation agreement.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goldman |first=David |date=2024-05-13 |title=Melinda French Gates is resigning from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2024/05/13/investing/melinda-gates-resigns-foundation/index.html |access-date=2024-09-04 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref>
+''[[Forbes]]'' magazine has consistently ranked French Gates as one of the world's most powerful women.<ref name="The World">{{Cite web |title=Power Women |url=https://www.forbes.com/lists/power-women/#3d5d9f225a95 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190319123118/https://www.forbes.com/lists/power-women/#3d5d9f225a95 |archive-date=March 19, 2019 |access-date=March 13, 2019 |work=Forbes}}</ref> She and her ex-husband have received numerous awards and honors for their charitable work, including the US [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]] and the French [[Legion of Honour]]. She was recognized as one of the [[100 Women (BBC)|BBC's 100 women of 2021]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |date=December 7, 2021 |title=BBC 100 Women 2021: Who is on the list this year? |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-59514598 |access-date=December 16, 2022}}</ref>
-==Early life==
+==Early life and education==
 Melinda Ann French was born on August 15, 1964, in [[Dallas|Dallas, Texas]].<ref name=":0">{{cite news|date=October 23, 2011|title=Office romance: how Bill met Melinda|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/features/office-romance-how-bill-met-melinda-855292.html|work=The Independent|language=en|access-date=May 24, 2021|archive-date=May 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210524221717/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/features/office-romance-how-bill-met-melinda-855292.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=March 15, 2018 |title=Melinda Gates biography |url=https://www.biography.com/people/melinda-gates-507408 |access-date=May 24, 2021 |website=biography.com |publisher=A&E Television Networks |archive-date=March 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327161235/https://www.biography.com/people/melinda-gates-507408 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Harris |first=Paul |date=November 25, 2006 |title=A woman of substance |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2006/nov/26/theobserver |access-date=May 24, 2021 |website=[[The Guardian]] |quote=Melinda Ann French was born in Dallas on 15 August 1964. |archive-date=August 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170807233846/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2006/nov/26/theobserver |url-status=live }}</ref> She is the second of four children born to Raymond Joseph French Jr., an [[aerospace engineer]], and Elaine Agnes Amerland, a [[homemaker]]. She has an older sister and two younger brothers.<ref>[https://money.cnn.com/2008/01/04/news/newsmakers/gates.fortune/index2.htm "Melinda Gates goes public (pg. 2)"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120501013308/http://money.cnn.com/2008/01/04/news/newsmakers/gates.fortune/index2.htm |date=May 1, 2012 }}, cnn.com, January 7, 2008.</ref>
@@ Line 37: / Line 39: @@
 French Gates's first job was tutoring children in mathematics and computer programming.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Fast Company |date=January 9, 2017 |title=How Melinda Gates Is Diversifying Tech |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/3066355/how-melinda-gates-is-diversifying-tech |access-date=March 13, 2019 |website=Fast Company |language=en-US |archive-date=December 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218082919/https://www.fastcompany.com/3066355/how-melinda-gates-is-diversifying-tech |url-status=live }}</ref> After graduation, she became a marketing manager with Microsoft, being responsible for the development of multimedia products.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Small|first=Cathleen|title=Melinda Gates : Philanthropist and Education Advocate. |date=2017 |publisher=Cavendish Square Publishing LLC |isbn=978-1-5026-2708-7 |location=New York, NY |oclc=1039680502}}</ref> These included [[Microsoft Cinemania|Cinemania]], [[Encarta]], [[Microsoft Publisher|Publisher]], [[Microsoft Bob]], [[Microsoft Money|Money]], [[Microsoft Works|Works (Macintosh)]] and [[Microsoft Word|Word]].<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite news |year=2008 |title=Office Romance: How Bill met Melinda |work=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/features/office-romance-how-bill-met-melinda-855292.html |access-date=January 10, 2019 |archive-date=September 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180929034825/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/features/office-romance-how-bill-met-melinda-855292.html |url-status=live }}</ref> She worked on [[Expedia]], which became one of the most popular travel booking websites. In the early 1990s, French Gates was appointed as General Manager of Information Products, a position which she held until 1996.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Honders |first=Christine |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/921141343 |title=Melinda Gates |date=July 15, 2016 |isbn=978-1-5081-4832-6 |location=New York |publisher=PowerKids Press |page=8 |oclc=921141343 |access-date=August 15, 2020 |archive-date=September 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210912183850/https://www.worldcat.org/title/melinda-gates/oclc/921141343 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Melinda Gates Biography">{{Cite web |title=Melinda Gates |url=https://www.gatesfoundation.org/Who-We-Are/General-Information/Leadership/Executive-Leadership-Team/Melinda-Gates |access-date=March 13, 2019 |website=gatesfoundation.org |publisher=Gates Foundation |archive-date=March 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210315035110/https://www.gatesfoundation.org/Who-We-Are/General-Information/Leadership/Executive-Leadership-Team/Melinda-Gates |url-status=live }}</ref> She left Microsoft that year, reportedly, to focus on starting a family.<ref name=":2" />
-French Gates served as a member of Duke University's Board of Trustees from 1996 to 2003.<ref>[http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/admin/extaff/news/publications/winter96/board.htm Gates Joins Trustees] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120802153624/http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/admin/extaff/news/publications/winter96/board.htm |date=August 2, 2012 }}, Fuqua.duke.edu; retrieved June 29, 2013.</ref> She attends the annual [[Bilderberg Group]] conference and has held a seat on the Board of Directors of [[Graham Holdings]] (formerly [[The Washington Post]] Company) since 2004.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Melinda French Gates Elected a Director of The Washington Post Company |url=http://www.ghco.com/news-releases/news-release-details/melinda-french-gates-elected-director-washington-post-company |access-date=March 14, 2019 |website=Graham Holdings Company |language=en |archive-date=August 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803212113/http://www.ghco.com/news-releases/news-release-details/melinda-french-gates-elected-director-washington-post-company |url-status=live }}</ref> She was also on the board of directors at [[Drugstore.com]] but left in August 2006 to focus on philanthropic projects.<ref>{{Cite web |year=2005 |title=Officers and Directors |url=http://investor.shareholder.com/drugstore/management.cfm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060207063601/http://investor.shareholder.com/drugstore/management.cfm |archive-date=February 7, 2006 |access-date=February 14, 2008 |publisher=Drugstore.com}}</ref><ref name="Melinda Gates Biography"/> Since 2000, French Gates has been in the public eye, stating "As I thought about strong women of history, I realized that they stepped out in some way."<ref name=":1" /> This has allowed her work shaping and advancing the goals of the [[Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation]] to be publicly recognized. By 2022, Bill and Melinda had given US$59.1 billion of their personal wealth to the Foundation.<ref name="FactSheet">{{cite web |title=Foundation Fact Sheet |url=https://www.gatesfoundation.org/who-we-are/general-information/foundation-factsheet |website=Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation |language=en}}</ref> In 2015, French Gates founded Pivotal Ventures as a separate, independent organization to identify and implement innovative solutions to problems affecting U.S. women and families.<ref>[https://www.pivotalventures.org/#who-we-are Pivotal Ventures-Who we are] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418005744/https://www.pivotalventures.org/#who-we-are |date=April 18, 2020 }}, pivotalventures.org; retrieved April 17, 2020.</ref> On May 13, 2024, French Gates resigned as co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, to be effective June 7.<ref>{{cite web | title=Melinda French Gates says she is resigning from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation | website=KOMO | date=May 13, 2024 | url=https://komonews.com/news/nation-world/melinda-french-gates-says-she-is-resigning-from-bill-and-melinda-gates-foundation-microsoft-billionaires-nonprofit-organization-charity-charitable-support-one-of-the-worlds-most-powerful-women | access-date=May 13, 2024}}</ref><ref name="CNN-resignation">{{cite web |title= Melinda French Gates is resigning from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation |first=David |last=Goldman |work=CNN |date=May 13, 2024 |access-date=May 13, 2024 |url= https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/13/investing/melinda-gates-resigns-foundation/index.html}}</ref>
+French Gates served as a member of Duke University's board of trustees from 1996 to 2003.<ref>[http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/admin/extaff/news/publications/winter96/board.htm Gates Joins Trustees] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120802153624/http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/admin/extaff/news/publications/winter96/board.htm |date=August 2, 2012 }}, Fuqua.duke.edu; retrieved June 29, 2013.</ref> She attends the annual [[Bilderberg Group]] conference and has held a seat on the board of directors of [[Graham Holdings]] (formerly [[The Washington Post]] Company) since 2004.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Melinda French Gates Elected a Director of The Washington Post Company |url=http://www.ghco.com/news-releases/news-release-details/melinda-french-gates-elected-director-washington-post-company |access-date=March 14, 2019 |website=Graham Holdings Company |language=en |archive-date=August 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803212113/http://www.ghco.com/news-releases/news-release-details/melinda-french-gates-elected-director-washington-post-company |url-status=live }}</ref> She was also on the board of directors at [[Drugstore.com]] but left in August 2006 to focus on philanthropic projects.<ref>{{Cite web |year=2005 |title=Officers and Directors |url=http://investor.shareholder.com/drugstore/management.cfm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060207063601/http://investor.shareholder.com/drugstore/management.cfm |archive-date=February 7, 2006 |access-date=February 14, 2008 |publisher=Drugstore.com}}</ref><ref name="Melinda Gates Biography"/> Since 2000, French Gates has been in the public eye, stating "As I thought about strong women of history, I realized that they stepped out in some way."<ref name=":1" /> This has allowed her work shaping and advancing the goals of the [[Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation]] to be publicly recognized. By 2022, Bill and Melinda had given US$59.1 billion of their personal wealth to the foundation.<ref name="FactSheet">{{cite web |title=Foundation Fact Sheet |url=https://www.gatesfoundation.org/who-we-are/general-information/foundation-factsheet |website=Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation |language=en}}</ref> In 2015, French Gates founded Pivotal Ventures as a separate, independent organization to identify and implement innovative solutions to problems affecting U.S. women and families.<ref>[https://www.pivotalventures.org/#who-we-are Pivotal Ventures-Who we are] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418005744/https://www.pivotalventures.org/#who-we-are |date=April 18, 2020 }}, pivotalventures.org; retrieved April 17, 2020.</ref> On May 13, 2024, French Gates resigned as co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, to be effective June 7.<ref>{{cite web | title=Melinda French Gates says she is resigning from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation | website=KOMO | date=May 13, 2024 | url=https://komonews.com/news/nation-world/melinda-french-gates-says-she-is-resigning-from-bill-and-melinda-gates-foundation-microsoft-billionaires-nonprofit-organization-charity-charitable-support-one-of-the-worlds-most-powerful-women | access-date=May 13, 2024}}</ref><ref name="CNN-resignation">{{cite web |title= Melinda French Gates is resigning from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation |first=David |last=Goldman |work=CNN |date=May 13, 2024 |access-date=May 13, 2024 |url= https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/13/investing/melinda-gates-resigns-foundation/index.html}}</ref>
 ===Writing===
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 ==Personal life==
 [[File:Bill og Melinda Gates 2009-06-03 (bilde 01).JPG|thumb|Melinda and her then-husband, [[Bill Gates|Bill]], in 2009]]
-Melinda began dating [[Microsoft]] CEO [[Bill Gates]] in 1987, after meeting him at a trade fair in New York.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=January 26, 2004 |title=Profile: Bill Gates |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3428721.stm |access-date=April 27, 2007 |archive-date=July 21, 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120721/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3428721.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1994, she married Gates in a private ceremony held in [[Lanai]], [[Hawaii]]. They have three children: daughters Jennifer and Phoebe Gates and son Rory Gates.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bose |first=Áine Cain, Debanjali |title=Inside the life of Bill Gates' daughter Jennifer, an elite equestrian who stands to inherit 'a minuscule portion' of her father's $110 billion fortune and is engaged to accomplished Egyptian equestrian Nayel Nassar |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-founder-bill-gates-daughter-jennifer-gates-life-2018-1 |access-date=April 20, 2020 |website=Business Insider |archive-date=April 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200423171131/https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-founder-bill-gates-daughter-jennifer-gates-life-2018-1 |url-status=live }}</ref> The family maintained a home in an [[earth sheltering|earth-sheltered mansion]] overlooking [[Lake Washington]] in [[Medina, Washington]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 16, 2016 |title=Peek inside Bill Gates' $124 million mansion Xanadu 2.0 – Take a look at Bill Gates' new house |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/nation-world/peek-inside-bill-gates-124-million-mansion-xanadu-2-0/pool-with-underwater-music-system/slideshow/56019673.cms |access-date=August 15, 2020 |website=The Economic Times |archive-date=October 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201007214016/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/nation-world/peek-inside-bill-gates-124-million-mansion-xanadu-2-0/pool-with-underwater-music-system/slideshow/56019673.cms |url-status=live }}</ref> The family also owned an oceanfront residence in [[Del Mar, California]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vasishta |first=Jeff |date=April 24, 2020 |title=Bill and Melinda Gates Pick Up Del Mar Oceanfront Mansion |url=https://variety.com/2020/dirt/moguls/bill-and-melinda-gates-pick-up-del-mar-oceanfront-mansion-1234590980/ |access-date=August 15, 2020 |website=Variety |language=en |archive-date=August 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813202419/https://variety.com/2020/dirt/moguls/bill-and-melinda-gates-pick-up-del-mar-oceanfront-mansion-1234590980/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Molnar |first=Phillip |date=April 24, 2020 |title=Report: Bill and Melinda Gates buy a $43-million Del Mar home |url=https://www.latimes.com/business/real-estate/story/2020-04-24/report-bill-and-melinda-gates-buy-43million-del-mar-home |access-date=August 15, 2020 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US |archive-date=October 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201007214045/https://www.latimes.com/business/real-estate/story/2020-04-24/report-bill-and-melinda-gates-buy-43million-del-mar-home |url-status=live }}</ref>
+Melinda began dating [[Microsoft]] CEO [[Bill Gates]] in 1987, after meeting him at a trade fair in New York.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=January 26, 2004 |title=Profile: Bill Gates |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3428721.stm |access-date=April 27, 2007 |archive-date=July 21, 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120721/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3428721.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1994, she married Gates in a private ceremony held in [[Lanai]], Hawaii. They have three children: daughters Jennifer Gates Nassar (born 1996) and Phoebe Gates (born 2002) and son Rory Gates (born 1999).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bose |first=Áine Cain, Debanjali |title=Inside the life of Bill Gates' daughter Jennifer, an elite equestrian who stands to inherit 'a minuscule portion' of her father's $110 billion fortune and is engaged to accomplished Egyptian equestrian Nayel Nassar |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-founder-bill-gates-daughter-jennifer-gates-life-2018-1 |access-date=April 20, 2020 |website=Business Insider |archive-date=April 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200423171131/https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-founder-bill-gates-daughter-jennifer-gates-life-2018-1 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Bill Gates's house|The family maintained a home]] in an [[earth sheltering|earth-sheltered mansion]] overlooking [[Lake Washington]] in [[Medina, Washington]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 16, 2016 |title=Peek inside Bill Gates' $124 million mansion Xanadu 2.0 – Take a look at Bill Gates' new house |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/nation-world/peek-inside-bill-gates-124-million-mansion-xanadu-2-0/pool-with-underwater-music-system/slideshow/56019673.cms |access-date=August 15, 2020 |website=The Economic Times |archive-date=October 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201007214016/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/nation-world/peek-inside-bill-gates-124-million-mansion-xanadu-2-0/pool-with-underwater-music-system/slideshow/56019673.cms |url-status=live }}</ref> The family also owned an oceanfront residence in [[Del Mar, California]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vasishta |first=Jeff |date=April 24, 2020 |title=Bill and Melinda Gates Pick Up Del Mar Oceanfront Mansion |url=https://variety.com/2020/dirt/moguls/bill-and-melinda-gates-pick-up-del-mar-oceanfront-mansion-1234590980/ |access-date=August 15, 2020 |website=Variety |language=en |archive-date=August 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813202419/https://variety.com/2020/dirt/moguls/bill-and-melinda-gates-pick-up-del-mar-oceanfront-mansion-1234590980/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Molnar |first=Phillip |date=April 24, 2020 |title=Report: Bill and Melinda Gates buy a $43-million Del Mar home |url=https://www.latimes.com/business/real-estate/story/2020-04-24/report-bill-and-melinda-gates-buy-43million-del-mar-home |access-date=August 15, 2020 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US |archive-date=October 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201007214045/https://www.latimes.com/business/real-estate/story/2020-04-24/report-bill-and-melinda-gates-buy-43million-del-mar-home |url-status=live }}</ref>
+In May 2021, Bill and Melinda Gates announced their decision to divorce after 27 years of marriage.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/ncna1266179|title=Bill and Melinda Gates are getting divorced, future of foundation in question|work=NBC News|date=May 3, 2021|publisher=NBC Universal|last=Stelloh|first=Tim|access-date=May 3, 2021|archive-date=May 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210503210027/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/ncna1266179|url-status=live}}</ref> According to ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'', Melinda Gates had been meeting with divorce lawyers since at least October 2019, after Bill's business dealings with convicted sex offender [[Jeffrey Epstein]] became public.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cartwright |first1=Lachlan |last2=Briquelet |first2=Kate |title=Melinda Gates Warned Bill About Jeffrey Epstein |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/melinda-gates-warned-bill-gates-about-jeffrey-epstein |access-date=May 11, 2021 |work=The Daily Beast |date=May 7, 2021 |language=en |archive-date=May 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210511000824/https://www.thedailybeast.com/melinda-gates-warned-bill-gates-about-jeffrey-epstein |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=WSJ>{{cite news |last1=Glazer |first1=Emily |last2=Safdar |first2=Khadeeja |title=Melinda Gates Was Meeting With Divorce Lawyers Since 2019 to End Marriage With Bill Gates |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/melinda-gates-was-meeting-with-divorce-lawyers-since-2019-to-end-marriage-with-bill-gates-11620579924 |access-date=May 11, 2021 |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=May 9, 2021 |archive-date=May 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210511000852/https://www.wsj.com/articles/melinda-gates-was-meeting-with-divorce-lawyers-since-2019-to-end-marriage-with-bill-gates-11620579924 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=TheGuardian>{{cite news |last1=Pengelly |first1=Martin |last2=Neate |first2=Rupert |title=Melinda Gates began divorce moves at time Bill's meetings with Jeffrey Epstein revealed |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/may/10/melinda-bill-gates-divorce-jeffrey-epstein-meetings |access-date=May 11, 2021 |work=The Guardian |date=May 10, 2021 |language=en |archive-date=May 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210511000431/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/may/10/melinda-bill-gates-divorce-jeffrey-epstein-meetings |url-status=live }}</ref> Although the couple did not have a [[prenuptial agreement]],<ref name=TheGuardian/> Melinda Gates (who filed) did not request spousal support.<ref name=WSJ/> She was allocated over $2 billion worth of shares and stocks from the divorce,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2021/05/07/melinda-gates-billionaire-after-stock-transfer-bill-gates/4986298001/|title=After a stock transfer from Bill Gates, Melinda Gates is a billionaire|work=USA Today|date=May 7, 2021|last=Miranda|first=Gabriela|publisher=Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC|access-date=June 8, 2021|archive-date=May 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210530171821/https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2021/05/07/melinda-gates-billionaire-after-stock-transfer-bill-gates/4986298001/|url-status=live}}</ref> although the full details of the financial settlement have not been disclosed.<ref name=":4" /> The divorce was finalized on August 2, 2021.<ref name="CNBC20210802"/> She has publicly used the name Melinda French Gates since the couple separated.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Kulish |first=Nicholas |date=2 August 2021 |title=Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates finalize their divorce |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/02/business/bill-gates-divorce-melinda-french.html |access-date=4 September 2024 |website=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>
+In October 2021, Melinda and Bill both attended the wedding of their eldest daughter Jennifer to Olympic equestrian [[Nayel Nassar]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ritschel |first=Chelsea |date=2021-10-17 |title=Jennifer Gates marries Nayel Nassar in ceremony attended by parents |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/jennifer-gates-nayel-nassar-wedding-b1939863.html |access-date=2024-09-04 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref> In March 2022, Melinda said that she and Bill were "friendly" but not "friends".<ref>{{cite web|title=Melinda French Gates says she is 'friendly' but not friends with Bill Gates|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/mar/03/melinda-french-gates-friendly-bill-gates|access-date=March 3, 2022|last1=Yang|first1=Maya|work=The Guardian|date=March 3, 2022|language=en}}</ref> In November 2022, she was reported to be dating former Fox News correspondent Jon Du Pre. In April 2024, a spokesperson quashed rumors that French Gates and Du Pre had become engaged, confirming that the two were no longer dating.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Hatcher |first1=Kirsty |last2=Pasquini |first2=Maria |date=22 April 2024 |title=Melinda French Gates Is Not Engaged to Jon Du Pre Despite Ring as Rep Confirms They're 'No Longer Dating' |url=https://people.com/melinda-french-gates-not-engaged-jon-du-pre-no-longer-dating-rep-8636757 |access-date=2024-09-04 |website=People |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Colon |first=Beatriz |date=2024-04-22 |title=Bill Gates' ex Melinda French Gates breaks silence on engagement after sighting with huge diamond ring |url=https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/518095/bill-gates-ex-melinda-french-breaks-silence-engagement-diamond-ring/ |access-date=2024-09-04 |website=HELLO! |language=en}}</ref> French Gates became a grandmother for the first time in March 2023 when Jennifer gave birth to a daughter.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Calvario |first=Liz |date=2023-04-08 |title=Bill Gates and ex-wife Melinda French Gates reveal sweet photos of their first grandchild |url=https://www.today.com/parents/celebrity/bill-gates-melinda-french-gates-grandchild-rcna78780 |access-date=2024-09-04 |website=TODAY.com |language=en}}</ref>
+After the divorce, the now independently wealthy French Gates has become a prominent [[megadonor]] to the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]], with a focus on [[Abortion in the United States|abortion rights]]. She donated over $10 million to Democratic causes in the time leading up to the [[2024 United States presidential election|2024 US presidential election]].<ref name=":5">{{Cite news |last=Schleifer |first=Theodore |date=2024-10-06 |title=Melinda French Gates's New Life: Abortion Politics and Kamala Harris |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/06/us/politics/melinda-french-gates-abortion-politics-kamala-harris.html |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> In that election, she endorsed [[Joe Biden]] and then, after he stepped aside, [[Kamala Harris]], her first presidential endorsements.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnston |first=Abby |date=2020-08-12 |title=Melinda Gates 'still discussing' if she and Bill Gates will endorse a presidential candidate |url=https://19thnews.org/2020/08/melinda-gates-still-discussing-if-she-and-bill-gates-will-endorse-a-presidential-candidate/ |access-date=2024-07-23 |website=The 19th |language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-23 |title=Melinda French Gates endorses Kamala Harris for president |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation-politics/melinda-french-gates-endorses-kamala-harris-for-president/ |access-date=2024-07-23 |website=The Seattle Times |language=en-US}}</ref>
+French Gates is a practicing [[Catholic Church in the United States|Catholic]].<ref name=":5" />
-In May 2021, Melinda Gates and her then-husband announced their decision to divorce in a joint statement on social media. This ended 27 years of marriage, and 34 years as a couple.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/ncna1266179|title=Bill and Melinda Gates are getting divorced, future of foundation in question|work=NBC News|date=May 3, 2021|publisher=NBC Universal|last=Stelloh|first=Tim|access-date=May 3, 2021|archive-date=May 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210503210027/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/ncna1266179|url-status=live}}</ref> According to ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'', Melinda Gates had been meeting with divorce lawyers since at least October 2019 after Bill's business dealings with convicted sex offender [[Jeffrey Epstein]] became public, and she had warned him about associating with Epstein as early as 2013.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cartwright |first1=Lachlan |last2=Briquelet |first2=Kate |title=Melinda Gates Warned Bill About Jeffrey Epstein |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/melinda-gates-warned-bill-gates-about-jeffrey-epstein |access-date=May 11, 2021 |work=The Daily Beast |date=May 7, 2021 |language=en |archive-date=May 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210511000824/https://www.thedailybeast.com/melinda-gates-warned-bill-gates-about-jeffrey-epstein |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=WSJ>{{cite news |last1=Glazer |first1=Emily |last2=Safdar |first2=Khadeeja |title=Melinda Gates Was Meeting With Divorce Lawyers Since 2019 to End Marriage With Bill Gates |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/melinda-gates-was-meeting-with-divorce-lawyers-since-2019-to-end-marriage-with-bill-gates-11620579924 |access-date=May 11, 2021 |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=May 9, 2021 |archive-date=May 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210511000852/https://www.wsj.com/articles/melinda-gates-was-meeting-with-divorce-lawyers-since-2019-to-end-marriage-with-bill-gates-11620579924 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=TheGuardian>{{cite news |last1=Pengelly |first1=Martin |last2=Neate |first2=Rupert |title=Melinda Gates began divorce moves at time Bill's meetings with Jeffrey Epstein revealed |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/may/10/melinda-bill-gates-divorce-jeffrey-epstein-meetings |access-date=May 11, 2021 |work=The Guardian |date=May 10, 2021 |language=en |archive-date=May 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210511000431/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/may/10/melinda-bill-gates-divorce-jeffrey-epstein-meetings |url-status=live }}</ref> Although the couple did not have a [[prenuptial agreement]],<ref name=TheGuardian/> Melinda Gates (who filed) did not request spousal support.<ref name=WSJ/> She was allocated over $2 billion worth of shares and stocks from the divorce.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2021/05/07/melinda-gates-billionaire-after-stock-transfer-bill-gates/4986298001/|title=After a stock transfer from Bill Gates, Melinda Gates is a billionaire|work=USA Today|date=May 7, 2021|last=Miranda|first=Gabriela|publisher=Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC|access-date=June 8, 2021|archive-date=May 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210530171821/https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2021/05/07/melinda-gates-billionaire-after-stock-transfer-bill-gates/4986298001/|url-status=live}}</ref> The divorce was finalized on August 2, 2021.<ref name="CNBC20210802"/> In March 2022, Melinda said that she and Bill were "friendly" but "not friends".<ref>{{cite web|title=Melinda French Gates says she is 'friendly' but not friends with Bill Gates|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/mar/03/melinda-french-gates-friendly-bill-gates|access-date=March 3, 2022|last1=Yang|first1=Maya|work=The Guardian|date=March 3, 2022|language=en}}</ref>
 ==Awards and recognition==
@@ Line 57: / Line 65: @@
 In 2007, French Gates received an honorary doctorate in medicine from the [[Karolinska Institute]] in Stockholm, Sweden.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Melinda Gates honorary doctor at Karolinska Institutet {{!}} Karolinska Institutet Nyheter |url=https://news.ki.se/melinda-gates-honorary-doctor-at-karolinska-institutet |access-date=April 21, 2020 |website=news.ki.se |language=en |archive-date=August 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803194242/https://news.ki.se/melinda-gates-honorary-doctor-at-karolinska-institutet |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2009, she and her then-husband received honorary degrees from the [[University of Cambridge]]. Their benefaction of $210 million in 2000 set up the [[Gates Cambridge Scholarships|Gates Cambridge Trust]], which funds postgraduate scholars from outside the UK to study at the university.<ref name="nyu1">{{Cite web |title=Gates Cambridge Trust |url=https://www.nyu.edu/academics/awards-and-highlights/global-awards/scholarships/gates-cambridge-trust.html |access-date=November 30, 2016 |publisher=New York University |archive-date=December 1, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161201082539/https://www.nyu.edu/academics/awards-and-highlights/global-awards/scholarships/gates-cambridge-trust.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="cam1">{{Cite web |date=May 13, 2013 |title=Gates Cambridge Trust announces new Provost |url=https://www.cam.ac.uk/news/gates-cambridge-trust-announces-new-provost |website=University of Cambridge |access-date=November 30, 2016 |archive-date=December 1, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161201082122/https://www.cam.ac.uk/news/gates-cambridge-trust-announces-new-provost |url-status=live }}</ref> Lastly, she was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters by Duke University in 2013 in honor of her philanthropic commitment.
-She has been repeatedly recognized by [[Forbes]] in its annual list of the [[Forbes Magazine's List of The World's 100 Most Powerful Women|100 Most Powerful Women]],<ref>{{Cite news |title=The World's 100 Most Powerful Women 2013 |work=Forbes |url=https://www.forbes.com/power-women |access-date=April 23, 2016 |archive-date=April 22, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160422093923/http://www.forbes.com/power-women/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ranking #3 in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2017, #4 in 2012 and 2016, #5 in 2020, and #6 in 2011, 2018, and 2019. She was awarded the [[UCSF]] medal in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |title=UCSF Medal |url=https://chancellor.ucsf.edu/chancellor-awards/ucsf-medal |access-date=July 1, 2020 |website=Office of the Chancellor |language=en |archive-date=July 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200704012510/https://chancellor.ucsf.edu/chancellor-awards/ucsf-medal |url-status=live }}</ref> French Gates was appointed an honorary [[Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire]] (DBE) in 2013 for services to philanthropy and international development.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Angela Ahrendts and Melinda Gates made (honorary) Dames of the British Empire |work=theguardian.com |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/jan/28/angela-ahrendts-melinda-gates-made-dames |access-date=May 21, 2014 |archive-date=April 3, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140403052711/http://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/jan/28/angela-ahrendts-melinda-gates-made-dames |url-status=live }}</ref> In recognition of the foundation's philanthropic activities in India, Bill and Melinda jointly received India's third-highest civilian honor, [[Padma Bhushan]], in 2015.<ref>{{Cite news |last=PTI |title=Advani, Bachchan, Dilip Kumar get Padma Vibhushan |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/advani-bachchan-dilip-kumar-get-padma-vibhushan/article6821421.ece |access-date=April 23, 2016 |website=The Hindu |date=January 25, 2015 |archive-date=January 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120063253/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/advani-bachchan-dilip-kumar-get-padma-vibhushan/article6821421.ece |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2016, [[President of the United States|President]] [[Barack Obama]] awarded French Gates and her husband with the [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]] for their philanthropic efforts.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 16, 2016 |title=President Obama Names Recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom |url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2016/11/16/president-obama-names-recipients-presidential-medal-freedom |via=[[NARA|National Archives]] |work=[[whitehouse.gov]] |access-date=November 16, 2016 |archive-date=January 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118210055/https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2016/11/16/president-obama-names-recipients-presidential-medal-freedom |url-status=live }}</ref>
+She has been repeatedly recognized by [[Forbes]] in its annual list of the [[Forbes Magazine's List of The World's 100 Most Powerful Women|100 Most Powerful Women]],<ref>{{Cite news |title=The World's 100 Most Powerful Women 2013 |work=Forbes |url=https://www.forbes.com/power-women |access-date=April 23, 2016 |archive-date=April 22, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160422093923/http://www.forbes.com/power-women/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ranking #3 in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2017, #4 in 2012 and 2016, #5 in 2020 and 2021, and #6 in 2011, 2018, 2019 and 2022, #10 in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=The World's Most Powerful Women 2023 |url=https://www.forbes.com/lists/power-women/ |access-date= |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref> She was awarded the [[UCSF]] medal in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |title=UCSF Medal |url=https://chancellor.ucsf.edu/chancellor-awards/ucsf-medal |access-date=July 1, 2020 |website=Office of the Chancellor |language=en |archive-date=July 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200704012510/https://chancellor.ucsf.edu/chancellor-awards/ucsf-medal |url-status=live }}</ref> French Gates was appointed an honorary [[Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire]] (DBE) in 2013 for services to philanthropy and international development.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Angela Ahrendts and Melinda Gates made (honorary) Dames of the British Empire |work=theguardian.com |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/jan/28/angela-ahrendts-melinda-gates-made-dames |access-date=May 21, 2014 |archive-date=April 3, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140403052711/http://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/jan/28/angela-ahrendts-melinda-gates-made-dames |url-status=live }}</ref> In recognition of the foundation's philanthropic activities in India, Bill and Melinda jointly received India's third-highest civilian honor, [[Padma Bhushan]], in 2015.<ref>{{Cite news |last=PTI |title=Advani, Bachchan, Dilip Kumar get Padma Vibhushan |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/advani-bachchan-dilip-kumar-get-padma-vibhushan/article6821421.ece |access-date=April 23, 2016 |website=The Hindu |date=January 25, 2015 |archive-date=January 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120063253/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/advani-bachchan-dilip-kumar-get-padma-vibhushan/article6821421.ece |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2016, [[President of the United States|President]] [[Barack Obama]] awarded French Gates and her husband with the [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]] for their philanthropic efforts.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 16, 2016 |title=President Obama Names Recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom |url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2016/11/16/president-obama-names-recipients-presidential-medal-freedom |via=[[NARA|National Archives]] |work=[[whitehouse.gov]] |access-date=November 16, 2016 |archive-date=January 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118210055/https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2016/11/16/president-obama-names-recipients-presidential-medal-freedom |url-status=live }}</ref>
-In 2017, [[President of France|President]] [[François Hollande]] awarded France's highest national honor to French Gates and her husband for their charitable efforts, i.e. as [[Legion of Honour|Commander of the Legion of Honour]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bill et Melinda Gates: une médaille pour le cœur |url=https://www.parismatch.com/Actu/International/Bill-et-Melinda-Gates-une-medaille-pour-le-coeur-1242938 |access-date=June 21, 2021 |website=Paris Match |date=April 29, 2017 |language=fr |archive-date=June 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210629080306/https://www.parismatch.com/Actu/International/Bill-et-Melinda-Gates-une-medaille-pour-le-coeur-1242938 |url-status=live }}</ref> That year, she was awarded the [[Otto Hahn Peace Medal|Otto Hahn Peace Medal 2016]] of the United Nations Association of Germany (DGVN), Berlin-Brandenburg, "for outstanding services to peace and international understanding" in the historic [[Berlin Town Hall]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 26, 2017 |title=Otto-Hahn-Friedensmedaille an Melinda Gates |url=https://dgvn.berlin/2017/05/26/310 |access-date=September 30, 2017 |website=Deutsche Gesellschaft für die Vereinten Nationen, Berlin-Brandenburg |publisher=United Nations Association of Germany, LV Berlin-Brandenburg (DGVN) |language=DE |archive-date=October 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171001042802/https://dgvn.berlin/2017/05/26/310/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=May 25, 2017 |title=Melinda Gates mit Friedensmedaille geehrt |language=DE |work=[[Focus (German magazine)|Focus]] |publisher=Helmut Markwort |agency=Deutsche Presse-Agentur |url=http://www.focus.de/regional/berlin/auszeichnungen-melinda-gates-mit-friedensmedaille-geehrt_id_7178467.html |access-date=September 30, 2017 |archive-date=September 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170930202018/http://www.focus.de/regional/berlin/auszeichnungen-melinda-gates-mit-friedensmedaille-geehrt_id_7178467.html |url-status=live }}</ref> That year, French Gates was listed by UK-based company Richtopia at number 12 in the list of 200 Most Influential Philanthropists and Social Entrepreneurs Worldwide.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Philanthropists & Social Entrepreneurs Top 200: From Elon Musk to Melinda Gates, These Are the Most Influential Do-Gooders in the World |url=https://richtopia.com/inspirational-people/top-200-philanthropists-social-entrepreneurs |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170330083458/https://richtopia.com/inspirational-people/top-200-philanthropists-social-entrepreneurs |archive-date=March 30, 2017 |access-date=March 30, 2017 |website=Richtopia}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Top 200 Global Philanthropists, Social Entrepreneurs |url=https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2017/03/31/elumelu-ranked-among-top-200-global-philanthropists-social-entrepreneurs/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401060441/https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2017/03/31/elumelu-ranked-among-top-200-global-philanthropists-social-entrepreneurs/ |archive-date=April 1, 2017 |access-date=March 31, 2017 |website=ThisDayLive}}</ref> In June 2024, she will deliver the Commencement address at [[Stanford University]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Peacock |first1=Chris |title=Melinda French Gates will be 2024 Commencement speaker at Stanford |url=https://news.stanford.edu/report/2024/04/02/melinda-french-gates-will-2024-commencement-speaker-stanford/ |website=Stanford Report |access-date=11 April 2024}}</ref>
+In 2017, [[President of France|President]] [[François Hollande]] awarded France's highest national honor to French Gates and her husband for their charitable efforts, i.e. as [[Legion of Honour|Commander of the Legion of Honour]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bill et Melinda Gates: une médaille pour le cœur |url=https://www.parismatch.com/Actu/International/Bill-et-Melinda-Gates-une-medaille-pour-le-coeur-1242938 |access-date=June 21, 2021 |website=Paris Match |date=April 29, 2017 |language=fr |archive-date=June 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210629080306/https://www.parismatch.com/Actu/International/Bill-et-Melinda-Gates-une-medaille-pour-le-coeur-1242938 |url-status=live }}</ref> That year, she was awarded the [[Otto Hahn Peace Medal|Otto Hahn Peace Medal 2016]] of the United Nations Association of Germany (DGVN), Berlin-Brandenburg, "for outstanding services to peace and international understanding" in the historic [[Berlin Town Hall]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 26, 2017 |title=Otto-Hahn-Friedensmedaille an Melinda Gates |url=https://dgvn.berlin/2017/05/26/310 |access-date=September 30, 2017 |website=Deutsche Gesellschaft für die Vereinten Nationen, Berlin-Brandenburg |publisher=United Nations Association of Germany, LV Berlin-Brandenburg (DGVN) |language=DE |archive-date=October 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171001042802/https://dgvn.berlin/2017/05/26/310/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=May 25, 2017 |title=Melinda Gates mit Friedensmedaille geehrt |language=DE |work=[[Focus (German magazine)|Focus]] |publisher=Helmut Markwort |agency=Deutsche Presse-Agentur |url=http://www.focus.de/regional/berlin/auszeichnungen-melinda-gates-mit-friedensmedaille-geehrt_id_7178467.html |access-date=September 30, 2017 |archive-date=September 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170930202018/http://www.focus.de/regional/berlin/auszeichnungen-melinda-gates-mit-friedensmedaille-geehrt_id_7178467.html |url-status=live }}</ref> That year, French Gates was listed by UK-based company Richtopia at number 12 in the list of 200 Most Influential Philanthropists and Social Entrepreneurs Worldwide.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Philanthropists & Social Entrepreneurs Top 200: From Elon Musk to Melinda Gates, These Are the Most Influential Do-Gooders in the World |url=https://richtopia.com/inspirational-people/top-200-philanthropists-social-entrepreneurs |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170330083458/https://richtopia.com/inspirational-people/top-200-philanthropists-social-entrepreneurs |archive-date=March 30, 2017 |access-date=March 30, 2017 |website=Richtopia}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Top 200 Global Philanthropists, Social Entrepreneurs |url=https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2017/03/31/elumelu-ranked-among-top-200-global-philanthropists-social-entrepreneurs/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401060441/https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2017/03/31/elumelu-ranked-among-top-200-global-philanthropists-social-entrepreneurs/ |archive-date=April 1, 2017 |access-date=March 31, 2017 |website=ThisDayLive}}</ref> In June 2024, she delivered the Commencement address at [[Stanford University]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Peacock |first1=Chris |title=Melinda French Gates will be 2024 Commencement speaker at Stanford |url=https://news.stanford.edu/report/2024/04/02/melinda-french-gates-will-2024-commencement-speaker-stanford/ |website=Stanford Report |access-date=11 April 2024}}</ref>
 ==Women in technology==
@@ Line 72: / Line 80: @@
 ==External links==
-{{Wikiquote}}
+{{Wikiquote|Melinda Gates}}
 {{commons category}}
 * [http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Who-We-Are/General-Information/Leadership/Executive-Leadership-Team/Melinda-Gates Profile at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation]
@@ Line 95: / Line 103: @@
 [[Category:21st-century American businesspeople]]
 [[Category:21st-century American businesswomen]]
+[[Category:21st-century Roman Catholics]]
 [[Category:American billionaires]]
 [[Category:American nonprofit chief executives]]
-[[Category:American Roman Catholics]]
+[[Category:American Roman Catholic writers]]
 [[Category:American women chief executives]]
 [[Category:American women philanthropists]]

v t e Padma Bhushan award recipients (2010–2019)
2010	Satya Paul Agarwal Mohammad Amin Sailesh Kumar Bandopadhyay M. S. Banga Anil Bordia Bipan Chandra B. K. Chaturvedi Sant Singh Chatwal G. P. Chopra Tan Chung Madhusudan Dhaky P. R. Dubhashi Puttaraj Gawai Belle Monappa Hegde Ilaiyaraaja Jagdish Chandra Kapur Shrinivas Khale Aamir Khan Sultan Khan Ram Kumar Kumudini Lakhia Kuzhur Narayana Marar Chhannulal Mishra Eledath Thaikkattu Narayanan Mooss C. P. Krishnan Nair S. P. Oswal Akbar Padamsee Ramakanta Panda Balasaheb Vikhe Patil Arogyaswami Paulraj A. R. Rahman Moosa Raza Mallika Sarabhai Nookala Chinna Satyanarayana Abhijit Sen Satya Vrat Shastri Noshir M. Shroff Kushal Pal Singh Bikash Sinha Balagangadharanatha Swamiji Narayanan Vaghul P. K. Warrier Fareed Zakaria
2011	S. P. Balasubrahmanyam Rajashree Birla M. N. Buch C. V. Chandrasekhar Ajai Chowdhry Yogesh Chander Deveshwar Satyadev Dubey T. J. S. George Shankha Ghosh Kris Gopalakrishnan Keki Byramjee Grant Shashi Kapoor Krishen Khanna Khayyam Chanda Kochhar Dwijen Mukhopadhyay Madavoor Vasudevan Nair Ramdas Pai Dashrath Patel Rajendra Singh Pawar Suryanarayanan Ramachandran Shobhana Ranade Gunupati Venkata Krishna Reddy Kallam Anji Reddy Waheeda Rehman Shyam Saran Analjit Singh Arpita Singh Surendra Singh R. K. Srikantan Raghavan Thirumulpad
2012	Suresh H. Advani Shabana Azmi Homi K. Bhabha Shashikumar Chitre Khaled Choudhury Jatin Das Vidya Dehejia Dharmendra S. N. Goenka M. S. Gopalakrishnan T. V. Gopalakrishnan Buddhadev Das Gupta Sunil Janah Anish Kapoor S. B. Mujumdar B. Muthuraman Mira Nair Arvind Panagariya José Pereira Mata Prasad M. S. Raghunathan P. Chandrasekhara Rao Ronen Sen Devi Shetty M. V. Subbiah N. Vittal N. H. Wadia George Yeo
2013	Satya N. Atluri Maharaj Kishan Bhan Jaspal Bhatti Rahul Dravid Adi Godrej Abdul Rashid Khan Rajesh Khanna Mary Kom Nandkishore Shamrao Laud Mangesh Padgaonkar Hemendra Singh Panwar Jogesh Pati Shivajirao Girdhar Patil A. Sivathanu Pillai D. Ramanaidu Kanak Rele V. K. Saraswat Ashoke Sen Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak B. N. Suresh Sharmila Tagore Ramamurthy Thyagarajan Saroja Vaidyanathan
2014	Anisuzzaman Mrityunjay Athreya Padmanabhan Balaram Dalveer Bhandari Ruskin Bond Anita Desai Pullela Gopichand Kamal Haasan Jyeshtharaj Joshi V. N. Kaul Neelam Kler M. Mahadevappa Leander Paes Koppillil Radhakrishnan Anumolu Ramakrishna Thirumalachari Ramasami Lloyd Rudolph Susanne Hoeber Rudolph Vinod Prakash Sharma Gulam Mohammed Sheikh Parween Sultana Dhirubhai Thaker Vairamuthu J. S. Verma T. H. Vinayakram
2015	Jahnu Barua Manjul Bhargava Vijay P. Bhatkar Swapan Dasgupta David Frawley Bill Gates Melinda French Gates Swami Satyamitranand N. Gopalaswami Subhash C. Kashyap Gokulotsavji Maharaj Saichiro Misumi Ambrish Mithal Sudha Ragunathan Harish Salve Ashok Seth Rajat Sharma Satpal Singh Shivakumara Swami Khadg Singh Valdiya
2016	Ravindra Chandra Bhargava Robert D. Blackwill Hafeez Contractor Indu Jain Heisnam Kanhailal Anupam Kher Sania Mirza Pallonji Mistry Udit Narayan Saina Nehwal Yarlagadda Lakshmi Prasad Vinod Rai N. S. Ramanuja Tatacharya A. V. Rama Rao D. Nageshwara Reddy Dayananda Saraswati Barjinder Singh Hamdard Ram V. Sutar Tejomayananda
2017	Vishwa Mohan Bhatt Deviprasad Dwivedi Ratnasundarsuri Niranjanananda Saraswati Cho Ramaswamy Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Tehemton Erach Udwadia
2018	Pankaj Advani Philipose Mar Chrysostom Mahendra Singh Dhoni Alexander Kadakin Ramachandran Nagaswamy Laxman Pai Arvind Parikh Sharda Sinha
2019	John T. Chambers Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa Pravin Gordhan Dharampal Gulati Darshan Lal Jain Ashok Laxmanrao Kukade Kariya Munda Budhaditya Mukherjee Mohanlal Nambi Narayanan Kuldip Nayar Bachendri Pal V. K. Shunglu Hukmdev Narayan Yadav
# Posthumous conferral 1954–1959 1960–1969 1970–1979 1980–1989 1990–1999 2000–2009 2010–2019 2020–2029

v t e Time Persons of the Year
1927–1950	Charles Lindbergh (1927) Walter Chrysler (1928) Owen D. Young (1929) Mohandas Gandhi (1930) Pierre Laval (1931) Franklin D. Roosevelt (1932) Hugh S. Johnson (1933) Franklin D. Roosevelt (1934) Haile Selassie (1935) Wallis Simpson (1936) Chiang Kai-shek / Soong Mei-ling (1937) Adolf Hitler (1938) Joseph Stalin (1939) Winston Churchill (1940) Franklin D. Roosevelt (1941) Joseph Stalin (1942) George Marshall (1943) Dwight D. Eisenhower (1944) Harry S. Truman (1945) James F. Byrnes (1946) George Marshall (1947) Harry S. Truman (1948) Winston Churchill (1949) The American Fighting-Man (1950)
1951–1975	Mohammed Mosaddeq (1951) Elizabeth II (1952) Konrad Adenauer (1953) John Foster Dulles (1954) Harlow Curtice (1955) Hungarian Freedom Fighters (1956) Nikita Khrushchev (1957) Charles de Gaulle (1958) Dwight D. Eisenhower (1959) U.S. Scientists: George Beadle / Charles Draper / John Enders / Donald A. Glaser / Joshua Lederberg / Willard Libby / Linus Pauling / Edward Purcell / Isidor Rabi / Emilio Segrè / William Shockley / Edward Teller / Charles Townes / James Van Allen / Robert Woodward (1960) John F. Kennedy (1961) Pope John XXIII (1962) Martin Luther King Jr. (1963) Lyndon B. Johnson (1964) William Westmoreland (1965) The Generation Twenty-Five and Under (1966) Lyndon B. Johnson (1967) The Apollo 8 Astronauts: William Anders / Frank Borman / Jim Lovell (1968) The Middle Americans (1969) Willy Brandt (1970) Richard Nixon (1971) Henry Kissinger / Richard Nixon (1972) John Sirica (1973) King Faisal (1974) American Women: Susan Brownmiller / Kathleen Byerly / Alison Cheek / Jill Conway / Betty Ford / Ella Grasso / Carla Hills / Barbara Jordan / Billie Jean King / Susie Sharp / Carol Sutton / Addie Wyatt (1975)
1976–2000	Jimmy Carter (1976) Anwar Sadat (1977) Deng Xiaoping (1978) Ayatollah Khomeini (1979) Ronald Reagan (1980) Lech Wałęsa (1981) The Computer (1982) Ronald Reagan / Yuri Andropov (1983) Peter Ueberroth (1984) Deng Xiaoping (1985) Corazon Aquino (1986) Mikhail Gorbachev (1987) The Endangered Earth (1988) Mikhail Gorbachev (1989) George H. W. Bush (1990) Ted Turner (1991) Bill Clinton (1992) The Peacemakers: Yasser Arafat / F. W. de Klerk / Nelson Mandela / Yitzhak Rabin (1993) Pope John Paul II (1994) Newt Gingrich (1995) David Ho (1996) Andrew Grove (1997) Bill Clinton / Ken Starr (1998) Jeff Bezos (1999) George W. Bush (2000)
2001–present	Rudolph Giuliani (2001) The Whistleblowers: Cynthia Cooper / Coleen Rowley / Sherron Watkins (2002) The American Soldier (2003) George W. Bush (2004) The Good Samaritans: Bono / Bill Gates / Melinda Gates (2005) You (2006) Vladimir Putin (2007) Barack Obama (2008) Ben Bernanke (2009) Mark Zuckerberg (2010) The Protester (2011) Barack Obama (2012) Pope Francis (2013) Ebola Fighters: Dr. Jerry Brown / Dr. Kent Brantly / Ella Watson-Stryker / Foday Gollah / Salome Karwah (2014) Angela Merkel (2015) Donald Trump (2016) The Silence Breakers (2017) The Guardians: Jamal Khashoggi / Maria Ressa / Wa Lone / Kyaw Soe Oo / Staff of The Capital (2018) Greta Thunberg (2019) Joe Biden / Kamala Harris (2020) Elon Musk (2021) Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Spirit of Ukraine (2022) Taylor Swift (2023)

v t e 100 Women by BBC in 2021
Culture and education	Lima Aafshid Oluyemi Adetiba-Orija Rada Akbar Catherine Corless Pashtana Durrani Saeeda Etebari Sahar Fetrat Melinda French Gates Saghi Ghahraman Angela Ghayour Najlla Habibyar Shamsia Hassani Mugdha Kalra Freshta Karim Aliya Kazimy Helena Kennedy Iman Le Caire Depelsha Thomas McGruder Fahima Mirzaie Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Lynn Ngugi Rehana Popal Rohila Alba Rueda Elif Shafak Anisa Shaheed Mina Smallman Barbara Smolińska Adelaide Lala Tam Vera Wang Malala Yousafzai
Entertainment and sport	Halima Aden Leena Alam Sevda Altunoluk Nilofar Bayat Carolina García Ghawgha Chloé Lopes Gomes Tanya Muzinda Razma Roya Sadat Shogufa Safi Sahar Fatima Sultani Nanfu Wang Ming-Na Wen Rebel Wilson
Politics and activism	Muqadasa Ahmadzai Abia Akram Alema Alema Wahida Amiri Natasha Asghar Marcelina Bautista Crystal Bayat Razia Barakzai Najla El Mangoush Shila Ensandost Fatima Gailani Momena Ibrahimi Hoda Khamosh Elisa Loncón Antileo Maral Masouma Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa Salima Mazari Amanda Nguyen Basira Paigham Monica Paulus Manjula Pradeep Halima Sadaf Karimi Soma Sara Mahbouba Seraj Ein Soe May Piper Stege Nelson Ann Rose Nu Tawng Emma Theofelus Benafsha Yaqoobi Zala Zazai
Science and health	Mónica Araya Zuhal Atmar Jos Boys Faiza Darkhani Azmina Dhrodia Jamila Gordon Laila Haidari Zarlasht Halaimzai Nasrin Husseini Amena Karimyan Mia Krisna Pratiwi Heidi Larson Sevidzem Ernestine Leikeki Mahera Mulu Mesfin Mohadese Mirzaee Tlaleng Mofokeng Natalia Pasternak Taschner Ruksana Sara Wahedi Roshanak Wardak Yuma Yuma
2020 ← → 2022

v t e Bill Gates
Career	Microsoft history Paul Allen Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (CEPI) Corbis (BEN) Cascade Investment United States v. Microsoft antitrust case TerraPower Gates Ventures Big History Project Breakthrough Energy
Writings	"Open Letter to Hobbyists" (1976) The Road Ahead (1995) Business @ the Speed of Thought (1999) How to Avoid a Climate Disaster (2021) How to Prevent the Next Pandemic (2022)
Philanthropy	Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Match for Africa climate change donations and sporting events
Films	Triumph of the Nerds (1996) Pirates of Silicon Valley (1999) The Social Network (2010) Inside Bill's Brain: Decoding Bill Gates (2019)
Family	Melinda French Gates (ex-wife) Bill Gates Sr. (father) Mary Maxwell Gates (mother) Mimi Gardner Gates (stepmother)
Possessions	Codex Leicester Residence Lost on the Grand Banks Porsche 959
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