Melinda French Gates announced on Monday that she would be leaving the philanthropic foundation she founded with her ex-husband, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates.
The resignation will be effective on June 7, leaving Bill Gates as the only chair of one of the world’s most influential and powerful non-governmental organizations.
Melinda French Gates made a statement which she posted on social media.
“After careful thought and reflection, I have decided to resign from my role as co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation,” she stated.
The statement gave no reason for her departure but noted that “under the terms of my agreement with Bill, in leaving the foundation, I will have an additional $12.5 billion to commit to my work on behalf of women and families.”
The couple got married in 1994, but they announced their divorce in 2021.
They continued to co-chair the foundation, which they established in 2001, with the vast wealth acquired through Microsoft’s success.
Bill Gates expressed his gratitude to his ex-wife for her “critical contributions” towards their organization.
“As a co-founder and co-chair, Melinda has been instrumental in shaping our strategies and initiatives, significantly impacting global health and gender equality.
“I am sorry to see Melinda leave, but I am sure she will have a huge impact in her future philanthropic work,” Bill Gates said in a separate statement Monday.
According to the organization’s CEO, Mark Suzman, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will be renamed the Gates Foundation.