Bill Gates paid nearly $8b to Melinda French-owned foundation after divorce

Bill Gates paid nearly $8 billion to a foundation controlled by Melinda French Gates as part of a $12.5 billion settlement following their 2021 divorce, according to US tax filings.

The filings show Gates donated about $7.88 billion to the Pivotal Philanthropies Foundation, which was established to fund French Gates' independent philanthropic work. The contribution ranks among the largest publicly disclosed charitable donations on record, says Geekwire.

A spokesperson for Pivotal Philanthropies confirmed that the full $12.5 billion settlement has been completed. The remaining portion of the agreement, roughly $4.6 billion, may be reflected in future tax filings or may have been transferred to Pivotal Ventures, a limited-liability company owned by French Gates that is not required to publicly disclose its finances.

French Gates stepped down in May 2024 as co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, now known as the Gates Foundation, ending a 27-year partnership that built one of the world's largest charitable organisations. She said she would focus her work on women and families.

Pivotal Philanthropies Foundation was founded in 2022 and has since distributed more than $540 million in grants, according to filings.

Bill Gates remains the world's 13th-richest person with an estimated net worth of $108 billion, while French Gates is ranked 77th with about $29.4 billion, according to wealth estimates.