Keepin' The Bling: Bill Gates Spotted Wearing Wedding Ring Amid Divorce From Estranged Wife Melinda
So, I guess we’re keeping the ring?
Bill Gates, 65, was spotted Saturday, May 22 leaving the Greenwich Hotel in New York City with the wedding band he and his now estranged wife, Melinda Gates, 56, exchanged just over 27 years ago.
The Microsoft co-founder was seen with his youngest child with Melinda, Phoebe, 18, her boyfriend Chaz Flynn, and security detail.
Bill was seen wearing a grey long sleeve polo, navy pants, black shoes, his signature black glasses, a grey plaid mask and his diamond wedding band. Phoebe was dressed in a two-piece red-orange ensemble, a white mask and some casual white kicks.
Bill and Melinda share two other children together, Jennifer, 25 and Rory, 21.
The couple announced their split on May 3 on Twitter to both of their accounts.The statement read that we they will continue to work together on their joint foundation, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation but, "we no longer believe we can grow together in this next phase of our lives."
Since the public split, a lot has unleashed surrounding the billion-dollar divorce. Bill recently stepped down from his position on the board at Microsoft, a company in which he co-founded, due to an alleged relationship with a staff member.
A rep from Gates’ team told The Wall Street Journal, "There was an affair almost 20 years ago which ended amicably. Bill's decision to transition off the board was in no way related to this matter. In fact, he had expressed an interest in spending more time on his philanthropy starting several years earlier."
As OK! previously reported, an insider dished that, "Melinda was aware there were some issues but it's unclear if she knew about all of it."
However, the tech icon's team is backing him up over all of the "tea" these "sources" are spilling.
"Any claim that Gates spoke of his marriage or Melinda in a disparaging manner is false," the rep insisted. "The rumors and speculation surrounding Gates's divorce are becoming increasingly absurd, and it's unfortunate that people who have little to no knowledge of the situation are being characterized as 'sources.'"
Bill had been open about his wrongdoings in his marriage even revealing before the divorce that he wished he "thanked Melinda" more in a 2019 Netflix documentary.
In the divorce filing, Melinda is not requesting spousal or child support and their assets gained in the marriage will reportedly be split since the two did not sign a prenuptial agreement.
