Quick Info
| Profession | Philanthropist and businesswoman |
|---|---|
| Nationality | American |
| Date of Birth | 15/08/1964 |
| Age | 62 years |
| Birthplace | Dallas, Texas, United States |
| Zodiac Sign | Leo |
Latest News about Melinda French Gates
04/06/2026
Melinda French Gates announced a $215 million investment through Pivotal to improve health in women's reproductive and midlife years. She said the goal is to encourage other philanthropists to invest in women's health. The announcement was reported by Time and Fortune.
01/06/2026
Melinda French Gates agreed to join the Seattle Kraken ownership group as a minority investor, alongside majority owner Samantha Holloway and other investors. The move is pending NHL approval. Reports described her as a billionaire philanthropist and businesswoman.
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Bio/Wiki
| Summary | Melinda French Gates, born Melinda Ann French, is an American philanthropist and global advocate for women and girls. She co-founded the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation with Bill Gates in 2000 and co-chaired it until 2024. She now leads Pivotal, which she founded in 2015. |
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| Recognition | Recognized by Forbes as one of the world's most powerful women and named among the BBC's 100 Women of 2021. Received the Padma Bhushan (2015) and the Presidential Medal of Freedom (2016). |
Educational Qualification(s)
| Ursuline Academy of Dallas | High school, graduated as valedictorian |
|---|---|
| Duke University | Bachelor's degree in computer science and economics |
| Duke University Fuqua School of Business | MBA |
Personal Life
| Residence | Seattle, Washington |
|---|---|
| Religion | Catholic |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Books |
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| Publishing imprint | Moment of Lift Books |
Relationships & More
| Spouse | Bill Gates (married 1994; divorced 2021) |
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Family
| Father | Raymond Joseph French Jr., aerospace engineer |
|---|---|
| Mother | Elaine Agnes Amerland, homemaker |
| Siblings | One older sister and two younger brothers |
| Children |
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Career
| Microsoft | Developed multimedia products and worked as a product developer and manager from 1987 for roughly a decade |
|---|---|
| Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation | Co-founded in 2000; co-chair until leaving in June 2024 |
| 2024 pledge | Announced a pledge of $12.5 billion toward future philanthropic efforts focused on women and girls |
| Pivotal | Founded in 2015 to advance women's power and influence in the United States and globally; in June 2026 committed $215 million to women's health, centred on reproductive and midlife years |
| Writing | Author of The Moment of Lift (2019) and The Next Day (2025) |
| Seattle Kraken | Agreed in June 2026 to join the NHL team's ownership group as a minority investor, subject to league approval |
Some Lesser Known Facts
| 1. She was introduced to the Apple II at age 14 and became interested in programming. | |
| 2. She was the second of four children. | |
| 3. Her parents started a rental property business to save for their children's college tuition. | |
| 4. She was reportedly the top student in her class at St. Monica Catholic School. | |
| 5. She was reportedly the valedictorian at Ursuline Academy of Dallas. |
