[People人] After a Mysterious Divorce and Widespread Rumors... Can Bill Gates Maintain His Benevolent 'Philanthropy King' Image?

Two Years Ago When Melinda Decided to Divorce
Gates - Child Sex Trafficking Criminal
Allegation Article Resurfaces

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Baek Jong-min] 'The world's richest man,' 'The prodigy of the PC era,' 'Master of lawsuits,' 'Great philanthropist,' 'The visionary who predicted the COVID-19 outbreak'... These have been the expressions representing Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft (MS). This was the image of Gates we knew until recently. However, the glory he built over the past 30 years is now at risk of crumbling like a sandcastle. This is due to the official announcement of his divorce from his wife, Melinda Gates.

Although divorce is common in the United States, this announcement has become a hot topic of public discussion. The sudden association with a child sex offender has escalated the issue exponentially. If confirmed as fact, Gates, who once had the image of a friendly neighbor, may find it difficult to maintain his foothold in the American business world.

Gates dropped out of Harvard University early and jumped into business. His fate changed when he signed a contract to supply the MS-DOS operating system, now largely forgotten, to IBM, the world's largest IT company. Although it is true that Gates was skilled at coding from a young age, he did not develop DOS himself. He supplied DOS, which he purchased from another company, to IBM. When the deal he arranged for DOS fell through, Gates proposed to deliver DOS to IBM despite never having developed it himself.

This contract, regarded as 'the worst mistake in the history of global business,' is considered the starting point that shifted the global computer industry towards a software-centric model. IBM's corporate value, after entrusting software to Gates, is now only about 7% of MS's. For IBM, it is truly a matter of regret.

March 13, 1986, is an unforgettable day for Gates. On this day, MS was listed on NASDAQ, 12 years after its founding. It was the starting point for the birth of Gates as the world's richest man.

Following DOS, Gates introduced the Windows series, which embraced a graphical environment, beginning to dominate the PC era. PCs without Windows became unviable. Gates ascended to the position of the world's richest person in 1995, shortly after the introduction of Windows. He held that position until 2017 without yielding it to anyone else.

MS and Gates occupied the top of the PC and software ecosystem until just before the advent of smartphones.

MS also dominated the internet world through its web browser Internet Explorer, bundled with Windows. 'Word' and 'Excel' became synonymous with word processors and spreadsheets, respectively.

As top predators, MS and Gates launched ruthless legal battles worldwide. In the IT industry, Gates was a public enemy. During the IMF financial crisis, MS even attempted to acquire 'Hangul,' a word processing software by Hancom.

At that time, MS and Gates became the target of legal attacks. In 1998, the U.S. Department of Justice, along with 20 state governments, filed an antitrust lawsuit against MS. MS was even ordered to be split up. It seemed like a crisis with no escape. Once again, luck was on Gates's side. George W. Bush, a pro-business Republican, was elected president. The lawsuit ended in a vague settlement. Competitors were left in despair.

Changes came to Gates, who had become the world's richest man. He married Melinda in 1994. Although not as gifted as Gates, Melinda was also highly talented, and their union and family life began to change him. Six years after their marriage, in 2000, Bill handed over the CEO position of MS to Steve Ballmer. Then, in 2008, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation was launched.

The philanthropic foundation introduced by the world's richest man wielded power exceeding the economies of some poor countries. Its plan to combat poverty and infectious diseases attracted attention. The COVID-19 pandemic, which broke out 12 years later, further elevated Gates's stature. He generously donated to COVID-19 prevention and eradication efforts, and the world hailed him as a 'saint.'

The meeting with Warren Buffett, chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, also changed Gates's life trajectory. The two met in 1991 and quickly became close friends. Buffett instilled in Gates the meaning of philanthropy. The trio of Gates, Melinda, and Buffett brought the concept of wealthy individuals' donations to the forefront. The 'Giving Pledge' movement, encouraging the donation of inheritances, was also their creation. Gates's story, transforming from 'the emperor of computers' to the world's leading 'king of giving,' was even published as a biography, inspiring children worldwide with dreams and hope.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Where there is light, there is also shadow. On May 3, 2021, the past Gates disappeared. The couple announced their divorce, stating they could no longer grow together. Subsequently, even more shocking news emerged. Reports surfaced that Melinda decided to divorce after a 2019 New York Times article revealed that Gates had met with Jeffrey Epstein, a child sex offender.

This aligns with reports that Gates is being shunned by his family. Both sides remain silent about the interactions between Gates and Epstein. At the time of the 2019 report, Gates explained that their relationship was purely business-related.

Even in the relatively liberal United States regarding affairs and sexuality, crimes involving minors are strictly punished. This is why Epstein's acquaintances severed ties with him. Prince Andrew, the second son of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, faced global outrage and eventually resigned from public office after his involvement in child sex trafficking through Epstein was exposed.

The fact that even his family has turned their backs on him raises suspicions about Gates's mistakes. The greatest mask in history, disguised as philanthropy, may be about to be removed. If true, could there be a more dramatic downfall? Probably not.