Bill Gates talks about divorce, ‘dinners’ with Jeffrey Epstein in TV interview

Bill Gates discussed his marriage to Melinda French Gates, his past relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, and Microsoft's alleged toxic workplace culture in his first public appearance since his divorce was finalised earlier this week.

Gates appeared in an interview with CNN's Anderson Cooper on Wednesday to discuss his work in the fight against Covid-19. But the billionaire philanthropist first responded to questions regarding his personal relationships.

On Monday, Gates and his former wife, Melinda French Gates, officially divorced, ending their 27-year marriage, which he called “a very sad milestone”.

“Melinda's a great person, and that partnership that we had coming to an end is a source of great personal sadness,” Gates told Cooper. “We are communicating and working at the foundation so that partnership we're going to try and continue.”

The Gates Foundation announced in early July that the former couple would enter a two-year trial period to see if they can continue to work together. If they opt not to continue, Melinda Gates will resign as co-chair of the foundation, leaving Bill Gates with full stewardship.

“We always enjoyed our work together,” Gates said Wednesday. “The two of us can go out and work with leaders and help build the organisation, so that would be definitely the best thing for the foundation.”

In the interview, Gates also addressed his former wife's concerns about his ties to the late disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, with whom he said he had “several dinners”.