Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates divorced in 2021, leading to questions about the transfer of funds between the two. Three years after their divorce settlement, Bill Gates is still transferring stock to his former wife of 27 years. Last Tuesday, French Gates reported receiving an additional $1.2 billion of public company stock, increasing her estimated fortune to $30.2 billion, making her the 12th richest woman in the world. Gates, on the other hand, is now worth an estimated $105.9 billion.
French Gates received a 7.1% stake in AutoNation worth $470 million and a 1% stake in the Canadian National Railway Company worth $690 million. This is in addition to the 1.6% stake she already owned in the railway company due to the divorce settlement. Gates, meanwhile, has an 18% stake in AutoNation worth $1.2 billion and a 0.4% stake in the Canadian National Railway Company worth $300 million. The specifics of these stock transfers have not been disclosed, as representatives for Gates and French Gates did not comment.
French Gates announced in June that she would be getting $12.5 billion as part of her decision to resign as co-chair of the Gates Foundation, after nearly 24 years. It is unclear if this latest stock gift is part of that sum. The couple has given away more than $45 billion to charitable causes during their lifetimes, with a focus on health and poverty alleviation. French Gates has also announced plans to donate $1 billion over three years to support women’s and girls’ rights and has established a new foundation, Pivotal Philanthropies, with an initial investment of $674 million.
Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates have been prominent figures in philanthropy, with much of their charitable giving channeled through the Gates Foundation. Their divorce and subsequent financial dealings have drawn attention and scrutiny, but their commitment to giving back remains strong. As French Gates embarks on her own charitable endeavors, it is likely that she will continue to make significant contributions to causes she is passionate about. Time will tell how these latest stock transfers and philanthropic efforts will impact the world of giving.
