Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has quietly transferred $7.88 billion to his ex-wife Melinda French Gates’ private philanthropic organization. The massive transfer, revealed in recent tax filings, is the largest financial settlement to date in the couple’s highly publicized divorce. Melinda French Gates had previously stated that she would use her share of the divorce settlement to focus on independent philanthropy related to women and families.
The transfer comes after Bill Gates transferred shares worth billions of dollars to Melinda French Gates through his private investment company Cascade Investment after their divorce. The couple also agreed to divide assets, including real estate valued at over $170 million, art worth approximately $130 million, and Microsoft stock.
The divorce was announced in May 2021, with both parties stating they were no longer compatible. The official divorce was finalized in August 2021. The couple’s divorce settlement is one of the most significant in history, with Melinda French Gates’ net worth estimated to be around $25 billion after the division of assets.
