Gates Split Speeds Divergence of Their Separate Investing Goals

The same day this month, Bill Gates appeared in a virtual address to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome.

In her first public appearance since her divorce announcement, Melinda French Gates traveled to the White House, leaders from her charity and investment firm in tow. She pressed Biden officials on two issues central to her priorities: paid family leave and child care. The same day this month, Bill Gates appeared in a virtual address to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome. Wearing his familiar sweater, collared shirt and glasses, the Microsoft Corp. co-founder spoke for nearly 11 minutes about the impact of climate change on the world's food supply. The topics laid bare the diverging interests of the billionaire ex-couple behind one of the world's largest philanthropic foundations. Their split after 27 years of marriage, announced in May, now throws into question the destination of their vast fortune and the focus of their charitable endeavors. It also highlights their individual private-investment arms, which they have been quietly building over the past five years. Both have said they'll remain involved in the $50 billion Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, where they've promised to spend the majority of their wealth through their Giving Pledge. But in the years leading up to their breakup, each spouse has dived into projects outside the scope of the foundation's work, a trend that's expected to accelerate post-divorce.