Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, faced restrictions from being alone with female interns at the company, a new book by New York Times journalist Anupreeta Das reveals. The book, “Billionaire, Nerd, Savior, King: Bill Gates and His Quest to Shape Our World,” uncovers details about Gates’ interactions with young women and his turbulent personal life.
Gates’ behavior with female interns was reportedly so frequent that colleagues intervened, with one instance involving a colleague reprimanding someone for sending a young intern to Gates’ office alone. “She’s too young and too pretty,” the colleague warned, highlighting concerns over Gates’ flirtatious advances, which were described as “clumsy rather than predatory.”
Das’s book also discusses Gates’ strained marriage with Melinda Gates, which hit a breaking point in 2019 following the exposure of Gates’ connection to Jeffrey Epstein. Allegations of infidelity further strained their relationship, with Das documenting Gates’ advances towards women at Microsoft and the Gates Foundation.
The Gates’ marriage had already experienced significant difficulties, particularly in the mid-2000s after the birth of their youngest child, leading to marriage counseling. Gates’ relationship with tech entrepreneur Ann Winblad also added to the tension. Despite his marriage to Melinda, Gates and Winblad maintained an arrangement to spend a weekend together annually.
Following his divorce from Melinda, Gates entered a relationship with Paula Hurd, the widow of former Oracle CEO Mark Hurd. Melinda Gates first met Bill in 1987 when she was a young employee at Microsoft, where Gates held a superior position.
Das’s book sheds light on the complexities of Gates’ personal and professional life, revealing how his behavior and relationships have shaped his legacy. The revelations about his conduct with interns have added another layer of controversy to his already scrutinized public image.
