Melinda French Gates, once known as the quiet and reserved half of one of the world’s most famous couples, has recently taken a bold step into the world of politics. For years, she and her ex-husband, Bill Gates, co-ran the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the largest private philanthropy in the world. They focused on global health, poverty, and education, but Melinda stayed away from politics. She didn’t want to upset governments around the world or get involved in controversial issues. That all changed in 2021 when her life took an unexpected turn.
In 2021, Melinda and Bill Gates shocked the world by announcing their divorce after 27 years of marriage. This sudden split changed everything for Melinda. Now in control of her own billions, she had the freedom to make decisions that were once tied to the work she did with Bill. This newfound independence gave her the ability to choose her own path, and she didn’t waste time making big moves.
One of the most significant changes for Melinda was her decision to step down from her role at the Gates Foundation. By doing so, she was free to set her own agenda and, for the first time, dive into the world of politics. And she chose to make her mark on an issue close to her heart: abortion rights. For years, Melinda had carefully avoided speaking about this topic because it was too controversial. But after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, taking away the constitutional right to abortion, Melinda couldn’t stay silent any longer.
At 60 years old, Melinda has transformed herself into a major donor for the Democratic Party. She’s given more than $13 million to groups supporting Democratic candidates, especially those fighting for abortion rights. She’s even had her team talk to Vice President Kamala Harris’s advisors about working together on events. It’s a huge shift for someone who used to avoid politics altogether.
But what drove this change? According to people close to her, it wasn’t just one thing. Her divorce gave her the freedom to act on her own, and the political landscape in the U.S. also played a role. The overturning of Roe v. Wade pushed her to finally take a stand. “Now I get to make whatever decision I want,” Melinda said in a recent interview, noting that in the past, she had to be more cautious because of her position at the foundation.
This is a big departure from the Melinda many knew before. In the past, she avoided making political donations and didn’t publicly endorse any candidates, even during the 2016 election when her friend Hillary Clinton was running for president. Back then, she and Bill kept their political preferences private. But now, things are different. Melinda has become one of the most powerful voices in the fight for women’s rights and is openly supporting Democratic candidates.
Interestingly, this transformation wasn’t just Melinda’s idea. Her two children played a big role in influencing her political giving. Her son, Rory, is an ambitious Democratic supporter who has attended meetings with other wealthy Democratic donors, and he has encouraged his mother to dig deeper into politics. Meanwhile, her youngest daughter, Phoebe, has been outspoken about abortion rights on social media and has even made her own political contributions.
As Melinda made her political debut, it didn’t take long for Democratic fundraisers to take notice. Many of them have sought to connect with her team, seeing her as one of the few new major Democratic donors in recent years. She’s given large sums of money to political action committees (PACs) and nonprofits that focus on women’s issues, including abortion rights and family leave policies.
Melinda’s political giving is part of a larger shift in her approach to public life. She’s no longer the quiet, behind-the-scenes philanthropist she once was. She’s a force to be reckoned with, speaking out on issues that matter to her and using her wealth to make an impact. But this wasn’t always the case. As recently as 2012, she gave a speech on women’s health where she deliberately avoided discussing abortion. At the time, some people wondered if she privately opposed abortion rights because of her Catholic faith. But now, she’s made it clear that she believes women should have the right to choose.
Despite this shift, Melinda still avoids using the word “abortion” in public. Instead, she focuses on broader issues like women’s rights and access to healthcare. Some critics have been frustrated by her reluctance to talk about abortion more directly, arguing that she’s more concerned with the politics surrounding the issue than with helping individual women access abortions. Others, however, see her evolution as a necessary change.
Melinda herself admits that her views have evolved over time. Earlier this year, she met with female business leaders who urged her to use her political giving to complement her philanthropy. She took that advice to heart and has since become a key player in Democratic fundraising circles.
In the end, Melinda French Gates has undergone a late-in-life transformation that few saw coming. From a private philanthropist to a public political figure, she is now one of the most influential donors supporting Democratic causes, particularly those focused on women’s rights. And as the 2024 election approaches, all eyes are on Melinda to see just how far she’ll go in shaping the future of American politics.
