Melinda French Gates has expressed that the negative comments from tech industry critics regarding her philanthropic endeavors don’t affect her. During an interview with Scott Galloway on his podcast, she was asked about the backlash faced by billionaires like herself and MacKenzie Scott for their charitable efforts.
“I’m not bothered by it,” French Gates stated. “I understand who I am and what my purpose is, along with my values and the reasons I choose to give back.”
She emphasized her active involvement in her philanthropic work, saying, “It’s easy for some to stand on the sidelines and criticize, but I’m in the arena doing the work.”
Despite facing criticism for her charity efforts—such as Elon Musk mentioning that her support for President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign could lead to “the downfall of Western civilization”—French Gates remains unfazed. Musk’s comments followed a post by Ashley St. Clair that referred to so-called “super villain arcs” being pursued in the name of philanthropy.
French Gates also addressed the nature of criticism, explaining that it often comes from those not engaged in meaningful work. “Those who don’t contribute can easily criticize others. If that’s their choice, that’s fine, but it doesn’t deter me. My work continues regardless.”
In 2021, French Gates announced her divorce from Bill Gates after 27 years of marriage. Since then, she has stepped away from the Gates Foundation, which she co-founded, and has focused her giving efforts through Pivotal Ventures, a company she founded in 2015 that emphasizes women and families. In May, she outlined her plan to donate $1 billion over the next two years to causes related to reproductive rights.
Reflecting on her journey, French Gates shared advice she received years ago: “Set your own agenda, or someone else will set it for you.”