Melinda Gates
Melinda French Gates (born
Melinda Ann French on
August 15,
1964) is a former
Microsoft employee who was the product unit manager of
Microsoft Publisher,
Microsoft Bob,
Microsoft Encarta, and
Microsoft Expedia. In 1994, she married
Bill Gates, founder, Chairman, and former Chief Software Architect of
Microsoft. They have three children, Jennifer Katharine Gates (b. 1996), Rory John Gates (b. 1999) and Phoebe Adele Gates (b. 2002).
Melinda was born and raised in
Dallas,
Texas, where she was
valedictorian of her class at
Ursuline Academy of Dallas. She earned bachelor degrees in
computer science and
economics from
Duke University in 1986 and an
MBA from Duke in 1987, and served as a member of the Duke University's Board of Trustees from 1996-2003. She is an alumna of the
Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. Today she also attends the
Bilderberg Group and holds a seat on the boards of
The Washington Post[The Washington Post Company (2005). The Washington Post Company - History & Leadership - Biography: Melinda French Gates. Retrieved March 6, 2006.] and
Drugstore.com.
[drugstore.com (2005). drugstore.com - Officers & Directors. Retrieved March 6, 2006.]Along with her husband, Melinda founded the
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, a charitable organization to which they have given more than US$24 billion. In December of 2005, she along with her husband Bill Gates and musician
Bono were named by
Time magazine as
Persons of the Year. The Gates' received the "Spanish Nobel" prize - the
Prince of Asturias Award for International Cooperation - on May 4, 2006, in recognition of their world impact through charity giving.
[Bill and Melinda Gates named in Top 10 Persons of 2006, Retrieved May 9, 2006]*
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation*
NNDB profile
