Melinda French Gates revealed she ‘had to leave’ her billionaire ex-husband Bill Gates because their marriage lacked honesty, which impacted their ability to ‘have intimacy.’
The 60-year-old philanthropist stunned Late Show host Stephen Colbert Monday night with her candid answer about the end of her 27-year marriage with the Microsoft founder.
Melinda, who famously split from Bill Gates in 2021, has recently stepped back into the spotlight to promote her new memoir, in which she candidly reflects on the major transitions in her life, including her high-profile divorce.
She explained to Colbert that her relationship with the father of her three children lacked trust and honesty, which forced her to leave.
‘I learned to have a trusted relationship, which is what I wanted in marriage, both partners have to be honest with one another,’ Melinda said.
‘And if you can’t, you can’t have intimacy and you can’t have trust. So in the end, I had to go.’
While she did not detail what caused the lack of trust in their marriage, Melinda has previously admitted that her ex-husband’s friendship with disgraced Jeffrey Epstein was a driving factor for their split.
Bill has refused to say whether he was unfaithful to Melinda, but previously admitted he ‘certainly made mistakes’ in their marriage and claimed to ‘take responsibility.’
She explained to Colbert that her relationship with the father of her three children lacked trust and honesty, which forced her to leave.
‘I learned to have a trusted relationship, which is what I wanted in marriage, both partners have to be honest with one another,’ Melinda said.
‘And if you can’t, you can’t have intimacy and you can’t have trust. So in the end, I had to go.’
While she did not detail what caused the lack of trust in their marriage, Melinda has previously admitted that her ex-husband’s friendship with disgraced Jeffrey Epstein was a driving factor for their split.
Bill has refused to say whether he was unfaithful to Melinda, but previously admitted he ‘certainly made mistakes’ in their marriage and claimed to ‘take responsibility.’