Bill Gates donated $8 billion to the foundation run by his former wife Melinda

Bill Gates Makes Landmark Donation to Melinda French Gates' Foundation

According to tax documents, Bill Gates has contributed almost $8 billion to a nonprofit led by his former wife, Melinda French Gates. This extraordinary gift stands among the largest charitable contributions ever disclosed and offers new insight into the financial aspects of their divorce.

In 2024, Gates transferred $7.88 billion to the Pivotal Philanthropies Foundation, an organization established by Melinda French Gates that is dedicated to promoting opportunities for women and families. The New York Times, referencing tax records, reported the size of this donation.

This transfer was part of a broader $12.5 billion commitment that Gates agreed to as part of the couple’s divorce settlement. When Melinda French Gates resigned as co-chair of the Gates Foundation in May 2024, she referenced this agreement, noting that the funds would enable her to pursue her own philanthropic initiatives.

A representative for Pivotal confirmed to Fortune that the entire $12.5 billion commitment has now been fulfilled. While Gates’ $7.88 billion donation makes up the majority of this sum, the destination of the remaining $4.6 billion has not been fully detailed. It is possible that some of these funds were directed to Pivotal Ventures, Melinda French Gates’ for-profit company, which is not obligated to publicly share its financial information.

This major contribution has dramatically increased Pivotal Philanthropies’ assets, which grew from $604 million at the end of 2023 to roughly $7.4 billion in 2024. As a result, the foundation now ranks among the largest private charitable organizations in the country.

Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates ended their marriage in 2021 after nearly three decades together and raising three children. Although they initially continued their joint philanthropic work, their official collaboration concluded in 2024. The specifics of their financial separation were not made public at the time.

Gates has previously stated his intention to donate nearly all of his wealth over the next several decades. In a blog post from May 2025, he shared his plan to give away about 99% of his fortune to charitable causes and to accelerate his philanthropic efforts.

As part of this vision, the Gates Foundation is expected to distribute its resources and close permanently by 2045. Gates emphasized the importance of deploying funds quickly to address pressing global health issues and other urgent challenges.

While the ultimate amount will depend on economic conditions and inflation, Gates anticipates that the foundation will spend over $200 billion. He explained that this accelerated timeline is necessary to confront major global problems, such as infectious diseases and child health, that demand immediate action.