Bill Gates paid $7.88 billion to his ex-wife Melinda French Gates, including a record donation to her foundation, Pivotal Philanthropies Foundation

Bill Gates paid $7.88 billion to his ex-wife, Melinda French Gates, following their divorce after 27 years of marriage. This amount is part of a total divorce settlement of $76 billion. A significant portion of this sum has been directed to Melinda's private foundation, Pivotal Philanthropies Foundation, which focuses on supporting women.

The donation, considered the largest in history, was revealed through tax statements and was an important aspect of the divorce settlement. Melinda resigned from her position as co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in May 2024. She also mentioned that Gates' relationship with Jeffrey Epstein influenced her decision to divorce.