Biography
Melinda French Gates is a famous American activist, businesswoman, philanthropist, former manager at Microsoft, and ex-wife of billionaire Bill Gates. She was born on August 15, 1964, in Dallas, Texas, U.S. She completed her degree of B.A and MBA from Duke University. She is well known as the Co-Chair and Founder of, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Pivotal Ventures. She married Bill Gates in 1994 divorced in 2021, and is the mother of three children. She received numerous awards and recognition in her life including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016 and the BBC’s 100 Women in 2021.
Quick Facts
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Melinda Ann French Gates |
| Date of Birth | August 15, 1964 |
| Place of Birth | Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
| Profession | Philanthropist, former Microsoft executive |
| Education | Bachelor’s degree in computer science and economics from Duke University, MBA from Duke’s Fuqua School of Business |
| Spouse | Bill Gates (m. 1994; divorced 2021) |
| Children | 3 |
| Parents | Raymond Joseph French Jr., Elaine Agnes Amerland |
| Siblings | Older sister, two younger brothers |
| Net Worth | $11.1 Billion |
| Notable Awards | Presidential Medal of Freedom (2016), Spanish Prince of Asturias Award for International Cooperation (2006), Insignia of the Order of the Aztec Eagle (2006), among others |
Melinda Gates Awards
| Award | Year |
|---|---|
| American Library Association Honorary Membership | 1998 |
| Award for Greatest Public Service Benefiting the Disadvantaged (with Bill Gates) | 2002 |
| Time Persons of the Year (with Bill Gates and Bono) | 2005 |
| Spanish Prince of Asturias Award for International Cooperation (with Bill Gates) | 2006 |
| Insignia of the Order of the Aztec Eagle (with Bill Gates) | 2006 |
| Honorary Doctorate in Medicine from the Karolinska Institute | 2007 |
| Honorary Degrees from the University of Cambridge (with Bill Gates) | 2009 |
| Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Duke University | 2013 |
| Forbes 100 Most Powerful Women (various rankings) | Ongoing |
| UCSF Medal | 2013 |
| Honorary Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) | 2013 |
| Padma Bhushan (with Bill Gates) | 2015 |
| Presidential Medal of Freedom (with Bill Gates) | 2016 |
| Commander of the Legion of Honour (with Bill Gates) | 2017 |
| Otto Hahn Peace Medal 2016 (with Bill Gates) | 2017 |
Melinda Gates Books
| Title | Year |
|---|---|
| The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World | 2019 |
| Learning from Ananya Program Piloting and Scale-up in Bihar | 2022 |
FAQs about Melinda Gates Biography
What is the full name of Melinda Gates?
The full name of Bill Gates’ ex-wife is Melinda Ann French Gates.
What is the Profession of Melinda Gates?
Melinda Gates is a philanthropist and former multimedia product developer and manager at Microsoft.
What is the age of Melinda Gates?
Melinda Gates is currently 59 years old.
Who is Melinda Gates’s spouse?
Melinda Gates was married to Bill Gates.
Who are Melinda Gates’s Parents?
Melinda Gates’ parents are Raymond Joseph French Jr. and Elaine Agnes Amerland.
Who are Melinda Gates’s siblings?
Melinda Gates has an older sister and two younger brothers.
What is the net worth of Melinda Gates?
While Melinda Gates’ exact net worth is approximately $11.1 Billion.
What is the education of Melinda Gates?
Melinda Gates 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.
What are the major awards Melinda Gates received?
Melinda Gates has been honored with several awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom (2016), the Spanish Prince of Asturias Award for International Cooperation (2006), and the Insignia of the Order of the Aztec Eagle (2006), among others.
