In the areas of business, lobbying, and giving, Melinda French Gates is more than just a name. She is a force for change. She helps run the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Forbes magazine named Gates one of the most important women in the world over and over again.
Melinda Gates’ Net Worth in 2024
Melinda Gates, whose real name is Melinda French Gates, has net worth of $13 billion, according to Celebrity Net Worth. She is an American businesswoman and philanthropist.
Melinda Gates is best known for being married to Bill Gates, who helped start Microsoft. From 1994 to 2021, Bill and Melinda were married. They were the first people to start the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and are two of the most generous people in history.
It was in May 2024 that Melinda quit their charity. Melinda announced in late 2021 that she planned to give most of her wealth to many causes instead of just the Gates Foundation.
Melinda French Gates’ Career Journey
Melinda French Gates is a renowned philanthropist, former multimedia product developer and manager at Microsoft, and the ex-wife of Bill Gates. Her career journey has been marked by significant milestones and achievements in both business and philanthropy. Here are the key points that define her career
Early Life and Education
- Born on August 15, 1964, in Dallas, Texas, as Melinda Ann French.
- Raised in an upper-middle-class family with her parents, Raymond Joseph French Jr., an aerospace engineer, and Elaine Agnes Amerland, a homemaker.
- Attended St. Monica Catholic School and Ursuline Academy of Dallas, graduating as valedictorian.
- Earned a Bachelor’s degree in computer science and economics from Duke University in 1986 and an MBA from Duke’s Fuqua School of Business in 1987.
Career at Microsoft
- Started her career at Microsoft in 1987 as a product manager.
- Developed multimedia products, including Cinemania, Encarta, Publisher, Microsoft Bob, Money, Works (Macintosh), and Word.
- Worked on Expedia, which became one of the most popular travel booking websites.
- Held the position of General Manager of Information Products from 1987 to 1996.
Philanthropic Work
- Co-founded the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2000 with her husband Bill Gates.
- Has been a key figure in the foundation’s efforts to combat diseases, address malnutrition, and advocate for women’s reproductive rights.
- Has been recognized for her philanthropic work, including being ranked as one of the world’s most powerful women by Forbes magazine.
Pivotal Ventures
- Founded Pivotal Ventures in 2015, an investment and incubation company focused on accelerating social progress for women and families in the United States.
- Has committed $1 billion to promote gender equality through Pivotal Ventures.
Resignation from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
- Announced her resignation as co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in May 2024, effective June 7, 2024.
- Plans to continue her philanthropic work through Pivotal Ventures and other initiatives.
Awards and Recognition
- Has been recognized for her contributions to philanthropy and women’s empowerment, including being named one of the BBC’s 100 Women of 2021.
- Has been consistently ranked as one of the world’s most powerful women by Forbes magazine.
Overall, Melinda French Gates has had a remarkable career, transitioning from a successful businesswoman at Microsoft to a prominent philanthropist and advocate for women’s rights. Her work continues to have a significant impact on global health and social welfare initiatives.
Melinda Gates’ Assets
Melinda French Gates has a significant net worth and assets, primarily derived from her share of the Microsoft fortune and her philanthropic endeavors. Here are some key points about her assets
- Microsoft Dividend: Following her divorce from Bill Gates in May 2021, she received a significant portion of her wealth from public holdings transferred to her during the divorce. This includes shares previously owned by Cascade Investments, Bill Gates’s holding company, which accounted for approximately 9% of Cascade’s total public holdings.
- Pivotal Ventures: French Gates founded Pivotal Ventures in 2015, an investment and incubation company focused on accelerating social progress for women and families in the United States. Pivotal has committed $1 billion to “expanding women’s power and influence” in the US.
- Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: French Gates was a co-founder and co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which has disbursed over $77 billion in grants. She announced her intention to step down from the foundation in May 2024, receiving an additional $12.5 billion to allocate towards her charitable initiatives, primarily focused on women and families.
- Real Estate Holdings: French Gates and Bill Gates possess significant real estate holdings across the United States. Recently, Bill Gates sold a luxurious property in Medina, Washington, reflecting his ongoing financial activities.
- OCI Stake: In January 2024, an update to the analysis revealed French Gates’s stake in OCI, a natural gas-based fertilizer producer, and related insider transactions, leading to an increase in her net worth by approximately $350 million.
Overall, Melinda French Gates has a substantial net worth and assets, primarily derived from her share of the Microsoft fortune and her philanthropic endeavors.
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