Bill Gates Can Buy Out Wife Melinda French From Their Foundation In 2 Years

Bill Gates and his wife Melinda French Gates will continue to work together at their foundation, which they gave an additional $15 billion in resources, and will add new independent trustees even if they are divorced, Nicholas Kulish reported for the New York Times.

Wednesday’s announcement by Gates Foundation CEO Mark Suzman indicated that if they cannot work out their differences, Bill Gates will maintain control as he essentially buys Melinda French Gates out of the foundation. Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates have at times referred to the foundation they established together as their “fourth child.”

If over the next two years they can’t find a way to work together following their planned divorce, Mr. Gates will get full custody.

That was one of the most important takeaways from a series of announcements about the future of the world’s largest charitable foundation made on Wednesday by Suzman, overshadowing an injection of an additional $15 billion in resources that will be added to the $50 billion previously amassed in its endowment over two decades.

If they can't agree and she is forced to resign, Ms. French Gates “would receive personal resources from Mr. Gates for her philanthropic work” separate from the foundation’s endowment, the chief executive said.

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