Billionaire Bill Gates has completed a massive transfer of funds nearly $8 billion — to a private foundation run by his ex-wife, Melinda French Gates, as part of their post-divorce financial settlement. Tax filings made public in early 2026 reveal this donation to the Pivotal Philanthropies Foundation was made in 2024 and represents one of the largest divorce-related payouts ever disclosed.
The contribution, approximately $7.88 billion, was directed to Melinda’s foundation, which she established in 2022 to support independent philanthropic work focused on women, families, young people, and social progress. The foundation’s assets surged dramatically after the transfer, jumping from roughly $604 million at the end of 2023 to more than $7 billion by the close of 2024.
Part of a Broader Financial Agreement
This enormous donation was part of a pre-existing agreement tied to the couple’s breakup. Bill and Melinda Gates announced their decision to divorce in May 2021 after 27 years of marriage, and they later decided to operate separate philanthropic organisations. Melinda stepped down as co-chair of the famous Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in May 2024, formally ending their long-standing joint leadership of the organisation they helped build. As part of the split, Gates agreed to make a total financial commitment of $12.5 billion in support of Melinda’s independent work. The nearly $8 billion donation to Pivotal Philanthropies Foundation was confirmed by a spokesperson as part of that overall package, which they say has now been fully honoured. It’s thought that the remaining roughly $4.6 billion of this commitment may have been directed toward Melinda’s Pivotal Ventures — an LLC that supports other initiatives and does not publicly disclose its finances.
A Record-Setting Settlement and Its Impact
The size of this payout alone places it among the largest publicly disclosed contributions connected to a divorce settlement. While specific terms of the broader financial arrangement have not all been made public in detail, the donation to Melinda’s foundation was required to be reported via tax filings, which is how the scale of the transfer became widely known. Melinda’s foundation is now positioned as one of the wealthiest private philanthropic organisations in the United States. With this financial boost, Pivotal Philanthropies has expanded its grant-making and programmes, supporting causes ranging from mental health resources to initiatives empowering women in the workplace and beyond.
What Led to the Split
Bill and Melinda Gates were married for nearly three decades before announcing their separation in 2021. They issued a joint statement at the time saying they no longer believed they could “grow together as a couple,” though they would continue working jointly on philanthropic goals. Their parting was followed by a careful division of both personal and philanthropic responsibilities. The breakup came amid broader scrutiny of Bill Gates’ personal and professional relationships, which reportedly included critical discussions about his past association with controversial figures and an admissions of regret on Gates’ part about mistakes he made. Regardless of the circumstances, both have moved on professionally and personally, with Melinda now focusing on her own philanthropic mission and Bill concentrating on his broader global work.
Ongoing Financial and Philanthropic Legacy
Bill Gates’ net worth remains immense — estimated to be well over $100 billion — even after this extraordinary payout. Melinda French Gates has also retained significant financial resources, with her settlement assets, including the $8 billion contribution and other transfers, contributing to her own considerable wealth. Together, both continue to operate major philanthropic efforts that impact global health, education, gender equity and development. This chapter in both of their lives highlights how divorce at the highest levels of wealth often intersects with philanthropy and public accountability, resulting in landmark financial transfers that can reshape charitable institutions and influence global causes for years to come.
