Melinda Gates talks about the days when she was “in tears” just before a meeting, while arranging her divorce from the billionaire, the founder of Microsoft Bill, while revealing more details about their separation in an interview with CBS Mornings presenter Gail King.
The 57-year-old woman, who shocked the world when she and Bill announced in May 2021 that they were ending their 27-year marriage, is seen in a teaser for a preview of the interview – which will be broadcast on March 3 – says it is endured emotionally challenging times while working with the billionaire.
A short trailer published by CBS Evening News shows Melinda talking about how, even though the couple is going through their divorce behind the scenes, they can still work for the Gates Foundation “effectively together”.
Melinda said: “First of all, we both want to work together – we founded this institution in 2000 – both of us. The building has both our names. I believe in this institution, my values are baked in this institution. So I have always felt that it calls us to be our higher self.
“Even during the difficult times of the last 18 months, as we went through this process behind the scenes, we were able to show ourselves and work effectively together.
“I’m not saying it was easy, but I’m saying that I had days when I had tears an hour before an online meeting or I would be angry, but I still rose to my higher self and I think we can continue to do that. .
In another short trailer published by CBS Mornings, Melinda suggested that “trust has been broken” in her relationship with the billionaire businessman.
King, 67, asked Melinda, “Once trust is broken, isn’t it hard to get it back?” To which the philanthropist replied, “It’s very, very hard to get it back in any relationship.”
Another clip she sees her talking about her husband’s affair for the first time; last year, it was revealed that Bill had an extramarital affair with a Microsoft employee in 2000, six years after he and Melinda got married.
Melinda Gates says she spent days in tears just before a meeting as she divorced billionaire founder Bill Microsoft, as she revealed more details about their breakup in an interview with CBS Mornings presenter Gail King.
Speaking to Gale about how the affair may have contributed to the divorce, Melinda admitted that the couple had tried to “survive” the betrayal, but in the end the trust between them could not be restored.
“I certainly believe in forgiveness, so I thought we’ve been through some of it,” she said of the couple’s attempt to overcome Bill’s affair.
“It didn’t happen one moment or one thing, it just came at a time when there was enough that I realized it just wasn’t healthy and I couldn’t trust what we had.”
Melinda Gates is ready to talk about her divorce from billionaire, Microsoft founder Bill for the first time in an interview with CBS Mornings, which is scheduled to air on Thursday
Although she knew that divorce was the only option left for her, Melinda admitted that she was devastated by the separation, as she believed for much of their marriage that the relationship would last a lifetime.
“I think it’s really important to say, look, I’ve had a lot of tears for many days, I mean days where I’m literally lying on the carpet floor … and I’m thinking, ‘How is that possible?’ How can I become? How will I move forward? ”She revealed.
‘[There were] days [where] I was definitely angry. This is part of the grief process. You grieve the loss of something you thought you had and had all your life. This is a painful thing.
“At the end of the day, however, I began this journey of healing and I feel that I am beginning to reach the other side. And I feel like I’m turning a page in my head now. It’s 2022 and I’m really excited about what’s ahead and life ahead.
The interview – the first time Melinda has spoken publicly about her breakup with Bill – comes 10 months after the former couple first revealed to the world that they are splitting, and just seven months after finalizing their 130 billion divorce deal. dollars.
However, while Bill and Melinda remained silent about what caused their separation, just weeks after their announcement, the Microsoft founder was shaken by several accusations that he had behaved inappropriately toward employees of the technology company.
In May 2021, numerous reports surfaced alleging that the billionaire had pursued extramarital affairs with women working at Microsoft; that same month, Bill’s spokesman confirmed that he had an affair with a female staff member in 2000 while he was married to Melinda.
In a teaser trailer for the interview, the 57-year-old philanthropist (pictured with her ex-husband in April 2021) is seen hinting that “trust has been broken” in their 27-year marriage.
Bill and Melinda, 66 (seen on their wedding day in 1994) shocked the world when they announced in May 2021 that they were divorcing
He was the company’s chief executive at the time. It is not clear what position or level of experience the employee had.
The affair remained a secret until 2019, when the employee wrote a letter to the board detailing what happened and allegedly asked Melinda to read it.
The company has launched an investigation into the claims.
While the investigation was still ongoing in March 2020, Bill shocked the business world by announcing his resignation from his position on the company’s board.
That same day, Bill retired aboard the Berkshire Hathaway, run by his friend Warren Buffett.
Then, in June last year, he announced his resignation from the Gates Foundation, which he and Melinda co-founded, in which she continues to play an active role as co-chair of the board.
Although Bill never spoke publicly about the separation, he reportedly told attendees at the Sun Valley conference in Idaho in July that the divorce was “his fault.”
While attending the so-called “summer camp for billionaires”, the founder of Microsoft revealed the impending divorce of the couple in an “unrecorded” session with questions and answers, according to the New York Post.
During the session, the weeping Bill admitted that the breakup of the marriage was his fault.
Melinda French Gates tells @GayleKing it is possible to regain trust in a relationship, “but it is very difficult to regain it in any relationship.”
She talks about the fight for gender equality – as well as her divorce, in our exclusive interview on Thursday. pic.twitter.com/yV1Xn6Td4z
– CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) March 2, 2022
The former couple, who share three children (pictured), have not spoken publicly about the separation, but Bill is reportedly accused of an unrecorded question-and-answer session in July.
After her divorce was finalized, Melinda (seen without her wedding ring for the first time in June 2021) threw herself into the fight for gender equality.
“He admitted that he was wrong,” one of those present told the Post. – He actually referred to the fact that it [the divorce] it was his fault.
The source added: “He really seemed a little emotional about it. He may have been on the verge of tears.
However, in the seven months since their divorce was finalized, the former couple have been friendly, gathering in October last year to host the wedding of their eldest child, Jennifer, who married Egyptian horseman Nayel Nasar. in a lavish ceremony at her 142-acre mansion in North Salem, New York.
Melinda also threw herself into the fight for gender equality, promising in June 2021 that the Gates Foundation would spend $ 2.1 billion on the cause over five years, one of the organization’s biggest commitments in more than two years. decades.
The philanthropist’s promise seems to send a clear message about her separation from her ex-husband; Melinda has long insisted that gender equality be a key priority for the Seattle-based foundation, while instead gave priority to polio eradication and vaccine development.
Melinda is ready to talk about her fight for gender equality during her interview with CBS Mornings, the network revealed on Twitter – with a press release also revealing that the mother of three will participate in “a new current series for Women’s History Month entitled “Change the game.”
“CBS News correspondent Jamie Yukas and French Gates will talk to three women titans in their world-changing industries: director Ava Duvernay, groundbreaking scientist Dr. Kizmekia Corbett and labor activist IJN Poo,” the statement said.