Melinda French Gates (born Melinda Ann French; August 15, 1964) is an American philanthropist and former computer scientist and general manager at Microsoft. French Gates has consistently been ranked as one of the world's most powerful women by Forbes. In 2000, she and her then-husband Bill Gates co-founded the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the world's largest private charitable organization as of 2015. She and her ex-husband have been awarded the US Presidential Medal of Freedom and the French Legion of Honour. In early May 2021, Bill and Melinda Gates announced they were getting divorced but will still remain co-chairs of the foundation. Early life Melinda Ann French was born on August 15, 1964, in Dallas, Texas. She is the second of four children born to Raymond Joseph French Jr., an aerospace engineer, and Elaine Agnes Amerland, a homemaker. She has an older sister and two younger brothers. French, a Catholic, attended St. Monica Catholic School, where she was the top student in her class. At age 14, French was introduc
Melinda French Gates (nacida Melinda Ann French; 15 de agosto de 1964) es una filantrópica estadounidense y antigua científica informática y gerente general de Microsoft. French Gates ha sido consistentemente clasificada como una de las mujeres más poderosas del mundo por Forbes. En 2000, ella y su entonces marido Bill Gates co-fundaron la Fundación Bill & Melinda Gates, la organización de caridad privada más grande del mundo a partir de 2015. Ella y su ex marido han sido galardonados con la Medalla Presidencial de la Libertad de los Estados Unidos y la Legión de Honor de Francia. A principios de mayo de 2021, Bill y Melinda Gates anunciaron que estaban divorciándose pero seguirán siendo co-presidentes de la fundación. La vida temprana Melinda Ann French nació el 15 de agosto de 1964, en Dallas, Texas. Ella es la segunda de cuatro hijos nacidos a Raymond Joseph French Jr., un ingeniero aeroespacial, y Elaine Agnesland, una ama de casa. Ella tiene un hermano mayor y dos hermanas menores.