Melinda French Gates
From Microsoft Manager to World's Most Influential Philanthropist
Net Worth
$11B
Born
August 15, 1964 (age 61)
Country
United States
Occupation
Philanthropist, Former Technology Executive
Gender
female
Generation
Boomer
Marital Status
divorced
Children
3
Single Parent Household
No
Education
Master's
University
Duke University, Duke University's Fuqua School of Business
Industries
business, education
Wealth Category
billionaire
Wealth Origin
mixed
First-Gen Wealth
No
Overcame
- • One of few women in computer science in the 1980s
- • Navigated male-dominated tech industry at Microsoft
- • Faced skepticism that philanthropy could be data-driven
- • Public divorce after 27 years of marriage
Melinda French Gates is an American philanthropist, former technology executive, and advocate for women and girls worldwide. She co-founded the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the world's largest private charitable foundation. She has committed billions to global health, education, and gender equality, and is widely considered one of the most powerful women in the world.
Career Timeline
Notable Quotes
"A woman with a voice is by definition a strong woman. But the search to find that voice can be remarkably difficult."
"If you are successful, it is because somewhere, sometime, someone gave you a life or an idea that started you in the right direction."
"We need to be careful about telling women they can't make decisions for themselves."
"When we invest in women and girls, we are investing in the people who invest in everyone else."