Chinanews, May 18th. Comprehensive foreign media reported on the 18th. A few days ago, people familiar with the matter revealed that at the end of 2019, the Microsoft Board of Directors investigated the relationship between the company's co-founder Gates and a female employee, which may be related to Gates. Leaving the Microsoft board is related.

　　According to the latest news, Gates admitted that there had been "an extramarital affair that ended in a friendly manner" nearly 20 years ago, but at the same time said it had nothing to do with his previous withdrawal from the Microsoft board of directors.

Data map: The picture shows Bill Gates and his wife Melinda Gates.

US media: Gates has repeatedly pursued female employees and was investigated by the board of directors

　　According to reports, after Gates and Melinda announced the end of their 27-year marriage two weeks ago, Gates was revealed to have pursued female employees at Microsoft and the couple’s charitable foundation.

　　The New York Times reported that after his marriage in 1994, Gates had pursued women at both Microsoft and the foundation.

An unnamed source told the newspaper that Gates’ actions made many women “uncomfortable”, but he did not put pressure on them.

　　The Wall Street Journal stated that Microsoft began investigating a “worry” in 2019 involving the relationship between Gates and a company employee 20 years ago.

　　Microsoft said in a statement, “Microsoft received concerns in the second half of 2019 about Bill Gates seeking to establish an intimate relationship with a company employee. A committee of the board of directors reviewed this concern and worked with an external legal firm. A thorough investigation was conducted with the assistance of the Institute."

　　A person familiar with the matter said that during the investigation, some members of Microsoft's board of directors believed that Gates was no longer suitable to serve as a director of the company.

Another person familiar with the matter said that Gates announced his resignation before the board's investigation was completed and a decision was made.

The picture shows Bill Gates and his wife.

Gates: There was an extramarital affair and a

friendly breakup

, denying that it was related to leaving the board of directors

　　In March 2020, Gates announced that he would leave Microsoft's board of directors and devote more time to philanthropy, but he will continue to maintain "contact" with the company's CEO, Satya Nadella.

　　So, is the extramarital affairs that the US media recently broke with Gates's departure from Microsoft's board of directors?

The Wall Street Journal reported on May 18 that Gates’ spokesperson said in a statement that “there was an affair that ended in a friendly manner nearly 20 years ago.”

　　The statement also said, "Bill's decision to fade out of the board has nothing to do with this matter. In fact, he expressed interest in spending more time on charity a few years ago."

　　A spokesperson for Gates said that any statement about "improper treatment of employees is false."

Melinda was revealed to have obtained more than $3 billion in assets

　　On May 3, 2021, Gates and his wife Melinda announced that they would end their 27-year marriage.

The two said in a statement that they will continue to work together on the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, "but in the next stage of life, continuing to maintain a marriage relationship will no longer allow us to improve together."

　　On May 14, the first hearing of the divorce case was held in Washington State. Since the divorce judgment date is April 4, 2022, several hearings may be held in the past year to finalize the specific division of assets.

　　The US media recently broke the news that the marriage of the Gates couple has actually been brewing for a long time, and Melinda consulted with a divorce lawyer in 2019.

It is reported that within half a month, Melinda has obtained more than $3 billion in assets.

　　The latest regulatory documents show that Cascade Investment, an investment company founded by Gates, once again transferred 2.25 million Deere shares to Melinda, valued at approximately US$851 million, plus the previous Coca-Cola Fansa bottle (FEMSA), With equity such as Canadian National Railways, Melinda has received more than $3 billion in assets.

　　In addition, during the past 20 years, Melinda and Gates have been in charge of the world's largest private charity foundation.

Rob Reich, a professor of political science at Stanford University, analyzed that since the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is a "family foundation", their divorce may have a huge impact on the foundation and its global work. .