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Melinda Gates Reacts to Bill Gates Calling Their Divorce a “Mistake”
Melinda French Gates knows there's a lot attached to a name.
And that's why the philanthropist and ex-husband Bill Gates, who she divorced in 2021 following 27 years of marriage, opted to let their children—daughters Phoebe, 22, and Jennifer, 28, and son Rory, 25—choose for themselves the last names they wanted to go by.
"I wanted the kids to be seen for who they were,” Melinda said in a profile published March 17 for Elle's 2025 Women of Impact issue. “My oldest daughter went in with Gates; she felt like she was ready to take that name on. My son chose not to. He used French all the way through high school.”
“I just tried to keep them in the real world and point things out to them as much as possible,” she continued telling the outlet. “We had real discussions about how our family was different, but you shouldn’t think any more of yourself because of that.”
Melinda also spoke further on her divorce from the former CEO of Microsoft. "Look, divorces are painful,” she noted, "and it’s not something I would wish on any family."
Indeed, Bill made headlines earlier this year by calling the divorce “the mistake I most regret.”
Melinda’s reaction? The outlet noted she rolled her eyes, saying, "You’ve clearly Googled more than I have.”
Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images/Craig Barritt/Getty Images for TIME
Following Bill’s comments to U.K.’s The Times, published in January, he backtracked. As he shared on Today Feb. 4, “I moved past the divorce.”
He also added that their three children are a main source of pride when looking back on their relationship.
"Melinda’s doing well,” he said, “I got a lot of work that I love to do. Despite the fact that the divorce wasn’t great, having those three kids and the work we were able to do, even if I knew it wouldn’t last forever, I would still do it again."
For more celeb kids who
have ditched their famous last names, read on.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
Suri Cruise
Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes' daughter went by Suri Noelle—her first name and her mom's middle name—for her high school graduation ceremony in June 2024.
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
Malia Obama
Former U.S. President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama's daughter Malia Obama dropped her last name to go by just her first and middle names—Malia Ann—when credited on her 2023 film project The Heart.
Andrea Staccioli/ Insidefoto/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images; Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images
Shiloh Jolie-Pitt
On her 18th birthday in May 2024, Shiloh Jolie-Pitt legally filed to change her name to just Shiloh Jolie after mom Angelina Jolie, dropping dad Brad Pitt's surname.
Getty Images for GQ
Olivia Jade
Designer Mossimo Giannulli and actress Lori Loughlin's daughter Olivia Jade Giannulli doesn't use her last name as an influencer, going by Olivia Jade for her YouTube career.
Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images forAudacy's Leading Ladies 2024
Elle King
Rob Schneider's daughter was born Tanner Elle Schneider but decided to go by Elle King (her middle name combined with her mom London King's surname) for her singing career.
Desiree Navarro/Getty Images
Samia Najimy Finnerty
Hocus Pocus star Kathy Najimy and The Hangover's Dan Finnerty share daughter Samia Najimy Finnerty, but she dropped their monikers to go by just Samia for her stage name as a singer.
Astrida Valigorsky/Getty Images
Nicolas Cage
August Coppola—the brother of Francis Ford Coppola—welcomed son Nicolas Kim Coppola with dancer Joy Vogelsang. However, you know him by a different name: Nicolas Cage, inspired by superhero Luke Cage.
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images for Christian Dior
Willow Smith
Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith's daughter dropped her last name to go by WILLOW as her music stage name.
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