Melinda French Gates Commits $215 Million to Women's Health as Epstein Questions Reopen Divorce Fallout
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 13
Melinda French Gates Commits $215 Million to Women's Health as Epstein Questions Reopen Divorce Fallout
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 13
Summary
$215 million in new funding will go to women’s health this month through Melinda French Gates’s Pivotal, targeting reproductive care and midlife health including menopause.
French Gates said women’s health remains chronically underfunded — just 5 cents of every global medical research dollar goes to it — even as women spend an average of nine years in poor health.
The 61-year-old billionaire said the rollback of US abortion rights has sharpened Pivotal’s focus on maternal mortality, perinatal mental health and reproductive rights, arguing her granddaughters are growing up with fewer rights than she had.
She also revisited Jeffrey Epstein’s role in her 2021 divorce from Bill Gates, calling him an “abhorrent” man, blaming the justice system for failing victims, and showing visible distress when asked about meeting him.
French Gates, who left the Gates Foundation in 2024 after receiving $12.5 billion for Pivotal, said she plans to keep working full-time for at least another decade on women’s empowerment.
How is Melinda French Gates using her $12.5B settlement to redefine philanthropy after escaping the 'muck' of the Epstein scandal?
Bill Gates denies Epstein's claims, but what does Melinda's reaction reveal about the real story behind their divorce?
Can her personal billions turn the tide for women’s health as governments roll back funding and rights worldwide?
$215 Million for Women’s Health: How Melinda French Gates and Pivotal Ventures Are Transforming Global Philanthropy
Overview
Melinda French Gates has made a major $215 million pledge to women’s health in June 2026, bringing her total investment in this area to over $600 million since 2024. Guided by her belief that women’s health is fundamental to their success, she channels her philanthropy through Pivotal Ventures to address critical gaps like contraceptive access, maternal care, menopause research, and mental health. Her strategic funding aims to spark a new era for women’s health worldwide, demonstrating her deep commitment to advancing women’s well-being and catalyzing systemic change on a global scale.