Living in the modernized world of computers and technology and not knowing about Bill Gates?? well it’s quite surprising then. One of the most popular personalities to ever exist in the 21st century, considered to be one of the best-known entrepreneurs of the microcomputer revolution of the 1970s and 1980s, is Bill Gates.
Enlisted to be the richest person in the world for almost 19 years from 1995 till 2017(excluding 2010-13), Gates currently has an estimated net worth of around US$146.7 billion, making him the third-richest person in the world.
He is the richest by property and is the richest with his philanthropic works, especially through his and his ex-wife, Melinda Gates‘ foundation, “Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation”, the world’s largest private charity. Gates couple was even one of the popular and powerful couples who had been together for almost 27 years till their sudden separation in 2021.
Their separation news was announced by Bill Gates himself however they said they will keep working together on charitable efforts on May 3, 2021.
Source: Instagram @thisisbillgates
Let’s get to know more about Bill Gates and Melinda Gates.
Bill and Melinda met for the first time at a trade fair.
Just like any beautiful love story, they also have one interesting nerdy love story. At the time when they met for the first time, Bill already had Microsoft and Melinda was a newcomer who just had joined the company as a product manager. Their first met was when they sat next to each other at a trade fair in New York City in 1987.
Melinda had other boyfriends at the time however she also had a feeling about if she wanted to be with Bill or not.
They had a nerdy proposal ever.
After some talks with themselves, they began dating for about a year, and soon they had more affection towards each other, they cared more for each other. The nerdiest proposal ever was in their case as Bill made the biggest decision of his life with a whiteboard and a marker. He had his whiteboard full of the pros and the cons of getting married, which indeed is funny and seems sort of nerdy decision however for Bill it really was a big deal.
He was afraid if he could live up with the commitment which got all changed when Melinda casually said “Hey, I Love you”. Those words made Bill shook as he even told; “And she said she loved me and then it was like, ‘Wow, and now what is going to happen?’”
What could have happened between the two beautiful couples, hmmm, well it was it when Bill asked Melinda to marry him, eventually they had a beautiful wedding held on the Hawaiian Island, Lanai, on January 1, 1994. At the time, Gates was 38 and Melinda was 29.
They had three children.
Source: Instagram @thisisbillgates
Following their marriage in 1994, Melinda became pregnant with their first-ever child, a daughter whom they welcomed in 1996 and named her Jennifer Katharine Gates. Three years later, they had their son named Rory John Gates in 1999 followed by their youngest daughter, Phoebe Adele Gates in 2002.
All of their children have grown to be a better global citizen as Jennifer, 25, is also on her way to becoming a doctor and has already completed her first year of medical school, their son, Son, on the other hand, has is reportedly an undergraduate student or a recent graduate at the University of Chicago whereas, their youngest daughter, Phoebe is an aspiring ballerina who’s studied in New York City.
They separated after 27 years long marriage.
Just when the world was facing the crisis of COVID-19 for a year, the shocking news of Bill and Melinda made the situation even worst. Their sudden announcement of separation via social media sites on May 3, 2021, left the world in shock as there was not even a single person who was expecting to hear that.
They decided to divorce following 27 years of marriage, and 34 years as a couple. Even son, they said they will keep working together on charitable efforts.
Statement read:
“Over the last 27 years, we have raised three incredible children and built a foundation that works all over the world to enable all people to lead healthy, productive lives. We continue to share a believer in that mission and will continue our work together at the foundation, but we no longer believe we can grow together as a couple in this next phase of our lives.”
They are the founders of “Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation”.
With a motive to enhance healthcare and reduce extreme poverty across the world, to expand educational opportunities and access to information technology in the U.S, Bill and Melinda worked on establishing a private philanthropists foundation. The foundation was launched in 2000 in Seattle, Washington and currently, it is reported to be the largest private foundation in the world, holding $46.9 billion in assets.
Since its founding, the foundation has supported a wide range of social, health, and education developments, including the establishment of the Gates Cambridge Scholarships at Cambridge University. Their foundation has reached out to help around the globe with their altogether 1602 employees. Moreover, Bill and Melinda Gates had donated around $36 billion to the foundation by the year 2018.
They decided to donate more than 50% of their properties to philanthropy works.
When it comes to philanthropists’ works, there had been no one so promising and powerful couples to ever exist rather than the Gates. Bill and Melinda had been on the news when they became members of “The Giving Pledge” which is a platform where many billionaires pledge to give at least half of their wealth to philanthropy.
They have repeatedly told that their kids won’t be inheriting billion dollars, not from their parents at least. As for the kids, they may report only receive $10 million from their parents, which is just a fraction of his $146.7 billion net worth.
They were named “Time’s Persons of the Year” in 2005.
They got much love and attention worldwide for their applauding charitable efforts to bring some better changes around the world. Not only did they earned attention but were given the title of “Time’s Persons of the Year” in 2005.
When asked about their achievement, they said; “We realize that we’ve been extremely fortunate in business, and we want to give back in ways that can do the most good for the most people. But we also believe that everyone has something to offer — time, money, or energy — that can help others.”
They received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016.
Bill and Melinda together won several awards and honors through the past years for their philanthropist’s supports; one being the most important award; the Presidential Medal of Freedom which former President Barack Obama gave both of them in 2016. Other of their awards include;
“Award for Greatest Public Service Benefiting the Disadvantaged”
Spanish Prince of Asturias Award for International Cooperation
“Padma Bhushan”(India’s third-highest civilian honor)
The Legion of Honour(France’s highest national award)
Honorary degrees from the University of Cambridge and many more.
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