When it became known a week ago that Bill Gates, 65, and his wife Melinda, 56, were getting a divorce after 27 years of marriage, the news came out of nowhere. But the couple had apparently been through a serious crisis for a long time.
The “Wall Street Journal” are therefore documents that prove that Melinda Gates had hired lawyers in 2019 to deal with an imminent divorce.
Melinda Gates warned her husband about Epstein
The connection between the multi-billionaire and the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein († 66), who has since died, is said to be part of the deep rift between Bill and Melinda Gates.
Bill Gates and Epstein had known each other since 2013. According to an employee of the joint charity, the “Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation”, Melinda Gates had been very disturbed about contact with Epstein for some time.
Even before the 2019 scandals became known, Melinda Gates is said to have warned her husband about Jeffrey Epstein. But over the years he met the former investment banker again and again. Gates is even said to have traveled in Epstein’s private jet. The plane was later nicknamed the “Lolita Express” because friends and acquaintances had been flown to Epstein’s private “pedophile island” in the Caribbean with it.
Bill Gates later asserted repeatedly that he had “neither business relations nor friendship” with Epstein. The fact that he had any contact with Epstein was simply “a misjudgment” of himself, according to Gates.
Melinda Gates does not claim any maintenance
As the “Wall Street Journal” reports, the preparations for the divorce should have been in full swing last year. Melinda Gates, who finally filed for divorce, is said to have not claimed any support for herself and the three adult children. What needs to be clarified, however, is how the Gates’ net worth should be dealt with. According to estimates, it is more than 130 billion dollars. (cat)