Bill and Melinda Gates End Their Marriage, But Their Inspiration Lives on
Their shared commitment to giving inspired others — including me — to give big, too. I formed the non-profit Savvy Ladies to help women take financial control of their lives. No matter what the Gates divorce brings, I’m sure their important charitable work will continue, as will mine.


While some look to England’s prince and princess across the pond as their happily ever after dream, I tend to look to those champions of doing good in the world, Bill and Melinda Gates.
Sadly, being a good person and having a deep commitment to making a profound change in the world does not necessarily translate into making a marriage work. Bill Gates, co-founder and former CEO of Microsoft, and his wife, Melinda French Gates, announced their divorce, after 27 years of marriage, on Monday. The announcement shattered the idealized image of the philanthropic couple praised for building an equal partnership throughout their marriage and their work together. Bill and Melinda Gates wrote in a statement that Bill Gates tweeted out, “After a great deal of thought and a lot of work on our relationship, we have made the decision to end our marriage.”
Philanthropic Pioneers
Bill and Melinda pioneered “big philanthropy” by donating more than half of their net worth to important causes focused on education, gender equality and health care. Today, the foundation has more than $51 billion in assets, making it one of the world’s wealthiest foundations. According to the website, the Gates Foundation has awarded grants to 1,190 charitable organizations, with many more dollars donated directly.

Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
This philanthropy-focused power couple single-handedly raised the bar for giving big and helping inspire others to give more. The Gateses were instruments in launching The Giving Pledge, encouraging billionaires to commit to giving the majority of their wealth to charity. Bill Gates explains, “This is about building on a wonderful tradition of philanthropy that will ultimately help the world become a much better place.”
Today, The Giving Pledge includes more than 200 of the world’s wealthiest individuals, couples and families, representing over 25 countries worldwide. To leverage the impact of the dollars donated, the Giving Pledge team helps billionaire members to best leverage their dollars to tackle some of the world’s biggest challenges.
Giving Back after My Grandmother’s Tragic Death
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, launched in 2000, inspired me to want to give big, as well. Shortly after, I founded Savvy Ladies, a non-profit that champions women, encouraging them to take control of their finances and achieve financial security, in order to advance women’s empowerment. I have a strong desire, passion and laser-like focus to tackle the economic instability that millions of women face each day. Growing up, I watched my grandmother struggle in a physically and emotionally abusive marriage. Grandma explained to me that she felt financially trapped, and she eventually died as a result of the violence. I will never forget sitting in the hospital, holding her hand and saying goodbye. That pain transformed me into the changemaker I continually aspire to become.
At the young age of 27, financial resources were tight, and I realized that hard work alone would not allow me to expand the services that Savvy Ladies provides. I made it my mission to become highly financially successful to follow the Gateses’ road map. My obsessive drive paid off, and I built Francis Financial, one of the most successful female-owned wealth management practices in the country. With my financial security in place, I could supercharge my giving by donating the vital funds needed to expand the mission-driven work of Savvy Ladies.
Over the last two decades, Savvy Ladies has worked with thousands of women, helping them tackle some of the most difficult financial situations. I in no way compare myself to Bill and Melinda and their massive success at tackling some of the most challenging education, health and gender equity problems of the time, but we do share a commitment to giving back and making a better future.
The Future for Bill and Melinda
While the financial details of Bill and Melinda Gates’s divorce are not yet clear, what is evident is their commitment to their family and their foundation. Millions of lives are dependent on the generous support of Bill and Melinda’s Foundation, and I do not doubt that they both will continue to support the foundation and remain role models for giving big in a meaningful and high-impact way. I have no doubt that as Bill and Melinda go their separate ways, they will each forge their own path while continuing to do good in the world.
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.

Stacy is a nationally recognized financial expert and the President and CEO of Francis Financial Inc., which she founded over 20 years ago. She is a Certified Financial Planner® (CFP®), Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® (CDFA®), as well as a Certified Estate and Trust Specialist (CES™), who provides advice to women going through transitions, such as divorce, widowhood and sudden wealth. She is also the founder of Savvy Ladies™, a nonprofit that has provided free personal finance education and resources to over 25,000 women.
-
AI-Powered Smart Glasses Set to Make a Bigger Splash
The Kiplinger Letter Meta leads the way with its sleek, fashionable smart glasses, but Apple reportedly plans to join the fray by late 2026. Improved AI will lure more customers.
-
How to Plan the Perfect Italian Dream Trip After 60
Proper preparation is everything for U.S. retirees when planning an Italy "trip of a lifetime."
-
Three Steps for Evaluating a Downsize in Retirement: A Financial Planner's Guide
Unless you think things through, you could end up with major (and costly) regrets. To make the right choice, base it on the three keys to retirement happiness.
-
Worried About Your Retirement Income? Four Questions to Ask Yourself, From a Financial Planner
If you're nearing or in retirement and stressing about your retirement income (so many of us are), consider taking some time to think about these four issues.
-
Do You Need Flood Insurance? I'm an Insurance Expert, and Here's Where You Can Get It
Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage, so you might need separate flood insurance, which you can get either through FEMA or private companies. Here are the details.
-
I'm an Investment Professional: These Are the Three Money Tips I'm Giving My College Grad
College grads can help set themselves up for financial independence by focusing on emergency savings, opting into a 401(k) at work (if it's offered) and disciplined, long-term investing.
-
New SALT Cap Deduction: Unlock Massive Tax Savings with Non-Grantor Trusts
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act's increase of the state and local tax (SALT) deduction cap creates an opportunity to use multiple non-grantor trusts to maximize deductions and enhance estate planning.
-
Know Your ABDs? A Beginner's Guide to Medicare Basics
Medicare is an alphabet soup — and the rules can be just as confusing as the terminology. Conquer the system with this beginner's guide to Parts A, B and D.
-
I'm an Investment Adviser: Why Playing Defense Can Win the Investing Game
Chasing large returns through gold and other alternative investments might be thrilling, but playing defensive 'small ball' with your investments can be a winning formula.
-
Five Big Beautiful Bill Changes and How Wealthy Retirees Can Benefit
Here's how wealthy retirees can plan for the changes in the new tax legislation, including what it means for tax rates, the SALT cap, charitable giving, estate taxes and other deductions and credits.