Bill Gates left Microsoft’s board due to concerns about an affair he had with an employee, the Wall Street Journal has reported, fueling speculation about the circumstances surrounding his divorce.
Citing people familiar with the matter, the paper said that Gates was asked to vacate his seat in March 2020 after an extramarital relationship he had with a staffer became the subject of a company probe. He had been re-elected to the board just three months prior. Explaining his decision, Gates released a statement at the time saying that he wanted to focus on his philanthropic endeavors, adding that he would continue to act as an adviser to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. He also resigned his position on the board of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., the conglomerate run by fellow billionaire businessman Warren Buffett.
But according to the Journal, there were more scandalous reasons behind Gates’ departure. In late 2019, members of the Microsoft board were reportedly alerted to a letter from a female employee who detailed a relationship she had with the software mogul, and also demanded changes to her job at the company. She allegedly requested that Gates’ now-estranged wife, Melinda French Gates, also read her letter detailing the purported affair. Board members tasked with looking into the matter hired a law firm to investigate possible misconduct. As more details came to light, the company’s leadership feared that the relationship between Gates and the female staffer had been “inappropriate,” the paper reported. Board members also reportedly raised concerns about Gates’ dealings with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Gates is said to have stepped down before the board made a formal ruling on the matter.
