Co-founder of Microsoft the multibillionaire Bill Gates, was one of the respectable humans and famous for his nerdiness, brainy and awkward guy. However, among his rivals, he was feared, brutal, and ruthless.
The U.S. Justice Department’s antitrust division accused Microsoft of running a monopoly and filed suit—the United States v. Microsoft. Competitors were knocked out of business. His childhood best friend and co-founder, Paul Allen, claimed Gates “conspired with Microsoft’s first chief executive, Steve Ballmer, to reduce his co-founder’s stake,” while he was “recovering from treatment for lymphoma.”
Admiring Gates for his achievements, Times Magazine stated in March 2020, “Late on Friday, co-founder and original chief executive officer Bill Gates, the man most closely identified with the world’s largest software maker, said he will leave the company’s board to devote more time to his charitable foundation, which is playing a key role in global health initiatives and expanding into new areas like climate change.” The takeout from this type of flattering journalism contradicted the real man.
As per Wall Street Journal, was far different than earlier stated. “Microsoft Corp. board members decided that Bill Gates needed to step down from its board in 2020 as they pursued an investigation into the billionaire’s prior romantic relationship with a female Microsoft employee that was deemed inappropriate.”
Microsoft’s board investigated and determined that Gates had to go. After decades of helping the software company, Gates resigned before the board finished its probe.
A representative for Gates revealed 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. He had expressed an interest in spending more time on his philanthropy starting several years earlier.”
The Wall Street Journal wrote some shocking facts in the article in The New York Times alleging Gates made overtures to women at both Microsoft and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The New York Times cited two instances where “the tech mogul clumsily asked out women who worked for him at Microsoft and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.”
As per the Daily Beast, “sex-offender Jeffrey Epstein gave Bill Gates advice on ending his marriage with Melinda after the Microsoft cofounder complained about her during a series of meetings at the money manager’s mansion, according to two people familiar with the situation.”
“The Daily Beast exclusively reported, Melinda Gates was furious over Bill’s relationship with Epstein, and was put off by the creepy financier upon meeting him in September 2013.” It was also reported that she was “upset over how Bill handled a previously undisclosed sexual harassment claim against his longtime money manager, Michael Larson, in 2018.”
Gates married Melinda French Gates during her employment at Microsoft. She dated Gates from 1987 to 1994 and married in the same year. The couple has three kids. After 27 years of successful married years, the couple had announced the divorce that is the most expensive ever.
A spokesperson in New York Times said, “It is extremely disappointing that there have been so many untruths published about the cause, the circumstances, and the timeline of Bill Gates’ divorce.”
The source added, the “claim of mistreatment of employees is also false” and “the rumors and speculation surrounding Gates’ 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.’”
Gates transformed into a new persona of a caring, well-meaning philanthropist. He has accomplished great work through his efforts. He has contributed to saving millions of lives by being philanthropic endeavors. Under the light of these allegations, Gates’ reputation and practices are now open to further questions and scrutiny.