Portrait of Melinda French Gates

Rank #80

Melinda French Gates

Net worth $29.9B

Microsoft · United States

Born
Aug 15, 1964
Age
61
Source
Microsoft
Residence
Citizenship
United States
Marital status
Divorced
Children
3
Education
Bachelor of Arts/Science, Duke University; Master of Business Administration, Fuqua School of Business

Net worth over time

Biography

  • Melinda French Gates is one of the most powerful women in philanthropy. In 2024, she resigned as co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation after a nearly 24-year run.
  • French Gates did not give a reason for leaving the Gates Foundation; however, Bill and Melinda Gates divorced in 2021.
  • Forbes estimates her settlement from the 2021 divorce was $25 billion.
  • French Gates has doubled down on her previous commitment to support women's and girls' rights, announcing in 2024 a $1 billion donation through 2026 to the cause.
  • French Gates also aims to close the funding gap for female founders through her investing, advocacy and philanthropic firm Pivotal Ventures.
  • French Gates was one of a small number of women working at Microsoft when she joined the company in 1987.
  • She majored in computer science and economics at Duke University and then got her MBA degree at Duke.

Financial assets

Exchange Ticker Company Shares Price Currency