#77

Melinda French Gates

United States 61 years old

Overview

Source of Wealth
Microsoft, investments
Industry
Technology
Residence
Seattle, Washington
Organization
Founder at Pivotal Ventures
Education
Duke University (Bachelor of Arts/Science)
Fuqua School of Business (Master of Business Administration)
Marital Status
Divorced
Children
3

Assets

  • AutoNation Inc.
    0 shares @ -
    -
    AN-US
  • Canadian National Railway Co.
    16,145,000 shares @ -
    -
    CNI-US
  • Coca-Cola FEMSA S.A.B de C.V.
    0 shares @ -
    -
    KOF-US
  • Deere & Co
    5,065,000 shares @ -
    -
    DE-US
  • Givaudan S.A.
    0 shares @ -
    -
    GIVN-CH
  • Grupo Televisa, S.A.B.
    0 shares @ -
    -
    TV-US
  • Microsoft
    381,600 shares @ -
    -
    MSFT-US
  • OCI NV
    0 shares @ -
    -
    OCI-NL
  • Orascom Construction Ltd
    0 shares @ -
    -
    OC-AE
  • Waste Management
    3,000 shares @ -
    -
    WM-US

Biography

Melinda French Gates is one of the most powerful women in philanthropy. In 2024, she resigned as co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation after a nearly 24-year run.

French Gates did not give a reason for leaving the Gates Foundation; however, Bill and Melinda Gates divorced in 2021.

Forbes estimates her settlement from the 2021 divorce was $25 billion.

French Gates has doubled down on her previous commitment to support women's and girls' rights, announcing in 2024 a $1 billion donation through 2026 to the cause.

French Gates also aims to close the funding gap for female founders through her investing, advocacy and philanthropic firm Pivotal Ventures.

About

French Gates was one of a small number of women working at Microsoft when she joined the company in 1987.

She majored in computer science and economics at Duke University and then got her MBA degree at Duke.