Melinda Gates could become the second richest woman in the world, by millionaire divorce
After knowing the divorce of the Gates couple, many wonder how much the ex-partner could inherit from the founder of Microsoft.
The news of the divorce of Melinda Gates, businesswoman, author and prominent philanthropist, has been around the world.
It is not for less, because she was married to Bill Gates, co-founder in 1975 of Microsoft, the world's largest software company, and currently the fourth richest man on the planet, with a net worth estimated at US $ 124,000 million, according to the Forbes magazine.
But Melinda, 56, has also forged her own name and gained a prominent position, especially through her charities.
Thanks to her work as co-director of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, she has established herself as “the most powerful woman in the world of philanthropy,” according to Forbes magazine.
According to Bloomberg, the investment company Cascade Investment, founded by Gates, had transferred several bonds worth $ 1.8 billion to Melinda. These are the shares of the National Railroad of Canada and those of the largest car dealer in the US, Autonation.
Overall, Gates' Cascade Investment has a total of shares valued at more than $ 50 billion.
Likewise, the woman could inherit up to 50% of her husband's fortune, since a divorce petition leaked by TMZ shows that the couple did not sign a prenuptial agreement before getting married in 1994. All they have is a separation contract that they signed not long ago and according to the law of the state of Washington, where the couple lives, the money must be divided equally, since everything acquired as a couple during the marriage is the property of both.
The Gates also own several assets, such as a beach house outside of San Diego valued at $ 43 million; the mansion in which the couple lives, located in Medina, which is estimated to have a value of US $ 130 million; a ranch in Florida with an approximate value of US $ 59 million and another ranch, of 200 hectares, located in Wyoming.
Similarly, Gates acquired agricultural land in 19 states across the country. Her largest farms are in Nebraska (8,000 hectares), Arkansas (19,000 hectares) and Louisiana (28,000 hectares).
Taking this into account, Melinda could become the second richest woman on the planet, after the owner of the legendary cosmetics brand L’Oréal, Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, whose fortune amounts to US $ 82.9 billion.
Businesswoman and author
In addition to her charitable activities, Melinda is a businesswoman and advocate for women's and girls' rights, according to Forbes.
In 2015, Melinda founded Pivotal Ventures, "an investment and incubation company," which funds "transformational ideas, people, and organizations" to advance "the social advancement of women and families in the US," according to the website of the company.
Additionally, in 2016, she participated in the creation of the Maverick Collective, a global community of philanthropists.
That same year, Melinda and Bill received the Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States, from then-President Barack Obama.
The following year they received analogous recognition in France, the Legion of Honor.
Melinda is also the author of the book “The Moment of Lift,” published in 2019, which talks about the “inspiring women” she has met around the world and how she became an advocate for human rights. Women's.
If her biography indicates anything, it is that after her separation from Bill from her, she will continue to stand out as one of the most important figures in world philanthropy.
