Melinda French Gates Opens Up About Secretly Separating from Bill and 'Wonderful' Life After Divorce

"I separated first before I made the full decision about a divorce," said French Gates, who was married to Bill Gates for 27 years

Melinda French Gates has revealed she secretly separated from Bill Gates before their divorce — and has opened up about her “wonderful” life now.

Bill and Melinda were married for 27 years before they announced the end of their relationship in May 2021. But the couple had already been living separately and trading off who lived at the family home since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to her new interview with TIME, published on Tuesday, June 18.

"It gave us the privacy to do what needed to be done in private," she told the magazine of life during the pandemic. "You know, I separated first before I made the full decision about a divorce. And to be able to do that in private while I’m still trying to take care of the kids, while still making certain decisions about how you’re going to disentangle your life—thank God.”

Related: Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates' Relationship Timeline

Speaking with TIME, Melinda said divorce can be “hard” and “painful,” but noted that now that all the dust has settled, life has "been wonderful" for the philanthropist, who has a lot to be excited about, including a new home she absolutely adores.

“I live in a neighborhood. Now I can walk to little stores. I can walk to the drugstore, I can walk to a restaurant,” she told the outlet. “I absolutely love it.”

Ahead of her upcoming 60th birthday in August, the mother of three says she's looking forward to the future.

“I feel like, ‘Wow, I’m 60. I better surround myself with people and still travel [so that] I’m still absolutely learning, because the world is moving, the world is changing,’ ” she explained. “I’m totally unencumbered to work in any way I want.”

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In May, Melinda announced her departure from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. She said the decision was one she did not come to “lightly,” but ensured she was still interested in pursuing philanthropic endeavors.

“This is a critical moment for women and girls in the U.S. and around the world-and those fighting to protect and advance equality are in urgent need of support,” she said at the time.

Speaking with TIME about her decision to leave, Melinda — who started investment firm Pivotal Ventures in 2015 — said she "was just ready to be able to have full decisionmaking control about where all the funds go."

“What I’m trying to do is make sure that women can step into their full power, that women see their power," she added. "It’s not something we give them. We have it. We’re born with it.”

Related: Melinda French Gates Makes Rare Appearance with Son Rory at White House State Dinner

On her final day with the foundation on June 7, Melinda said leaving the organization triggered “a complicated mix of emotions” within herself.

“I'm sad to be saying goodbye, proud of all we accomplished, energized by what's ahead, and excited to see what you do next,” she said. “But the emotion I feel most strongly right now is gratitude.

Since announcing her departure from the foundation, she has pledged $1 billion to support women’s rights in the United States.

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