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Melinda French Gates says she's resigning from the Gates Foundation. Here's what she'll do next.

Writer's picture: Victor NwokoVictor Nwoko

Billionaire philanthropist Melinda French Gates is stepping down from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the charitable organization she co-founded with her former husband, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, in 2000.


French Gates announced on social media that her last day at the foundation will be June 7, signaling her transition to "the next chapter" of her philanthropic endeavors. Concurrently, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation CEO Mark Suzman stated that the organization would be renamed the Gates Foundation.


In her departure, French Gates expressed her intention to concentrate on empowering "women and girls in the U.S. and around the world," disclosing that she will receive $12.5 billion from the foundation to further these objectives.


"[T]hose advocating for and advancing equality require immediate assistance," French Gates emphasized in her statement.


French Gates and Bill Gates were married for 27 years until their divorce announcement in May 2021, a decision she described as "painful" during an interview with "CBS Mornings" anchor Gayle King in 2022. Despite the divorce, they initially planned to continue collaborating on their foundation.


Gates Foundation CEO Suzman lamented French Gates' departure as "very sad news" but assured stakeholders of the foundation's ongoing commitment to its mission.



As of the end of 2023, the foundation boasted assets totaling $75.2 billion, as per its website.

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