Melinda Gates: biography, personal life, family, interesting facts, photos

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:47

When a rich man marries a rich woman, a prince marries a princess, a famous actor marries a famous actress – society takes it as something natural. But when a famous rich enviable groom chooses an unknown employee of his company as his life partner, this causes genuine interest. Who is the Cinderella who won the heart of a rich bachelor? Melinda Gates came under public scrutiny in 1994.

Not timid

Melinda French, and this was the surname she had before her marriage, from childhood she was distinguished by a strong and purposeful character. She was born on August 15, 1964 in Dallas to a Catholic family. From childhood, she was accustomed to work. The parents had a small business: they rented out housing, and the children helped them. Melinda, along with her sister and two younger brothers, cleaned rooms, calculated profits and expenses, etc.

In due time sheShe received a good education at the prestigious Duke University: she had degrees in economics, programming and an MBA. Young, educated, intelligent and ambitious, Melinda French easily found a job to her liking. She was advised to get a job at a promising, rapidly growing Microsoft company. She was immediately hired as head of sales.

Size matters

There are always a lot of people hovering around the rich and famous in the hope of getting something for themselves. So around Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft Corporation, many women circled, dreaming of getting him as a husband. Successful people have a hard time finding true relationships. They are accompanied by greed, greed and self-interest of people, covered with flattery and feigned adoration. You don't really know if they want a man or his money and fame. In this situation, Bill Gates considered himself a confirmed bachelor.

Besides, he read somewhere the opinion of a group of psychologists that the higher the intelligence of a woman, the lower her heel. The opinion, of course, is controversial, but it was enough for Bill to evaluate beautiful ladies according to this criterion. And it is this belief that will help him in choosing a wife.

Window to window

In 1987, at one of the press briefings in New York, Bill drew attention to a new employee: young, pretty and, lo and behold, must be damn smart, because on her feet she does not have high heels, but kind old moccasins. We met, the speech is literate, delivered, does not carry any nonsense, called, in the opinion of many stupidwomen to impress a man. He speaks matter-of-factly, knowingly. Yes, it's worth looking into.

Bill Gates was lucky here too. The windows of their offices looked at each other. He could watch from the window of his office the girl who managed to hook him. Melinda really was smart, strong and determined. Every day she liked the convinced bachelor more and more. Gradually, the working relationship grew into an office romance, but Bill was in no hurry to legitimize the relationship, and Melinda did not insist.

The rich have their own quirks

It's been seven years since they met, and finally Bill proposed to Melinda. On January 1, 1994, they got married in Hawaii. The news instantly spread all over the world, exciting the minds of all the ladies. Who is she who managed to shackle the rich man? Anticipating a public outcry and so as not to be disturbed by the curious, Bill bought tickets for all charter flights and hotel rooms. The wedding took place in a relaxed atmosphere with loved ones.

Then the newlyweds, wearing warm down jackets, rushed to Alaska… for their honeymoon. There they rode dogsleds with rapture and enjoyed the lack of interest in their personalities. To a simple hard worker, such somersaults will seem like the eccentricities of the rich, who are mad with fat. But Bill and Melinda Gates had a good reason. Most people have their own personal space and personal life, which few people climb into. For successful people, with the growth of their well-being, the territory of confidentiality decreases: they are everywherewatch out for paparazzi, reporters, etc. Just hide from prying eyes and be alone with each other - you have to pay for it.

Melinda Gates

After the marriage, Melinda leaves her post and devotes herself to the family. The Gates couple had two daughters and a son. Interestingly, Bill undertook to pay his wife $ 10 million for each child born and fixed his intention in the marriage contract. But Melinda Gates would not be herself if she just calmed down with household chores. Her active nature demanded realization. Therefore, in 1996, she began working for the Bill Gates Charitable Foundation. Melinda took over all the issues of managing the fund, although her husband was formally the director.

The Foundation provides medical assistance to third world countries. The African continent receives free medicines and vaccines. In addition, the foundation equips public libraries with computers, provides assistance in the field of education and support for low-income families. In 1999, the charity was named the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

For her great contribution to charity, Melinda has received many awards and prestigious awards. Her name constantly appears in the lists of the most influential women in the world. The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) listed her as one of the "50 Women to Emulate."

Not life, but a fairy tale

The biography of Melinda Gates is similar to the plot of a Disney cartoon. A good but not rich girl who has achieved everything thanks to her efforts meets a young andrich prince. They fall in love with each other, get married, they have three wonderful children. They are young, rich and happy. Nothing overshadows their existence. Yes, it only happens in fairy tales. But from the outside, Melinda's life is just that. She and her husband are happy and share their we alth with others. Such a kind fairy-tale king and queen who care about the welfare of ordinary people. By the way, the fortune of the Gates couple is 75 billion dollars.

However, a small nuance spoils the rosy picture, which cannot be bypassed in any way. Bill Gates once expressed one idea: reducing the population of the Earth, especially its poorest layers, will contribute to solving the problem of global warming. And his wife shocked with a statement that the Vatican officially condemned. She will dedicate her life to creating a system of affordable contraception for women in the Third World.

The conclusion suggests itself: in order to improve the planet, the spouse seeks to clean it up by reducing the number of poor people. And his faithful wife helps him in this. Through the Melinda Gates Foundation, a system of contraception and forced vaccination is being introduced in the countries of the African continent. But it doesn't look like a fairy tale anymore.