Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft, has seen a significant drop in his ranking on the Forbes list of America’s wealthiest people. Despite still holding a massive fortune of $107 billion, Gates now ranks at No. 9, down from No. 6 last year. This decrease in ranking is partly due to his 2021 divorce from Melinda French Gates, his wife of 27 years. As a result of the divorce, Melinda French Gates received an additional $12.5 billion for her philanthropic efforts, separate from the assets of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Forbes has adjusted their estimate of Melinda French Gates’ net worth to $29 billion, making her the ninth-richest woman in the United States. French Gates has focused her efforts on empowering women through her Pivotal Ventures investing and philanthropic arm, committing $2 billion to expand women’s power and influence. She has also created the Pivotal Philanthropies foundation and funded it with $674 million in publicly traded securities, with the potential to receive some of the $12.5 billion she has mentioned.
During the Forbes 400 Summit on Philanthropy in September 2022, Bill Gates predicted his own decline on the Forbes billionaires list as he continues to give away more of his fortune. Gates expressed his intention to keep donating until he drops off the list, acknowledging that he may not remain among the world’s wealthiest people in the future. While discussing the possibility of working together with his ex-wife Melinda in the future, Gates mentioned that the Gates Foundation will continue operating for another 25 years.
Following Melinda French Gates’ resignation as co-chair of the Gates Foundation, questions have arisen about the foundation’s focus on supporting women and families. CEO Mark Suzman assured that the foundation’s commitment to gender equality remains unchanged, emphasizing a sustained focus on women’s economic empowerment. Despite the changes in leadership and personal circumstances for Bill and Melinda Gates, the Gates Foundation continues to prioritize philanthropic efforts aimed at addressing global challenges and improving the lives of millions around the world.
