Why is Bill Gates STILL wearing his wedding ring? Microsoft founder sports beard in first outing since split
Bill Gates has been photographed for the first time since announcing his divorce from Melinda Gates and interestingly he was still wearing his wedding ring on his left-hand ring finger.
The Microsoft founder, 65, was spotted in Manhattan on Saturday, May 22, after flying into Newark Airport in New Jersey the day before with several passengers, including a woman thought to be his youngest daughter Phoebe. After New York removed its mask mandate, Gates was spotted beaming from ear to ear, his divorce proceedings seemingly far from his mind, with a hint of beard and no face covering. His wedding ring was prominently displayed on his left hand, however.
See the photos of the outing here.
RELATED ARTICLES
Bill Gates is spotted out in public for first time since divorce from Melinda https://t.co/HK2atMTnQ8
— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) May 23, 2021
Bill Gates STILL wearing his wedding ring
Bill and Melinda, 56, shocked the world earlier this month when they announced they were divorcing after 27 years together, the Daily Mail reported. Jennifer, 25, Rory, 21, and Phoebe, who appeared to be the young woman seen with him disembarking the plane in Newark on Friday, May 21 are the couple's three adult children. The party then boarded a helicopter bound for Manhattan, where he was seen the next day having lunch with his friends.
Gates was seen eating at Nobu in New York City on Saturday, May 22 with daughter Phoebe and her boyfriend Chaz Flynn, as well as a huge security team. After the news of his divorce broke through, Gates has been dogged by allegations of sexual conduct while at Microsoft, as well as concerns about his relationship with late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. He was believed to be holed up at an exclusive golf club in California, where he owns a home, prior to his arrival in Newark.
Bill Gates breaks cover
Gates first came out of hiding two weeks after announcing his divorce when he arrived in Newark Airport on Friday, May 21. He was seen wearing a grey long-sleeved polo, dark trousers and his trademark dark-rimmed glasses as he stepped off his private plane. As he approached the tarmac, Gates removed his mask and replaced it with a matching grey check face mask.
Except for an appearance at a virtual event with the US Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, May 19. Gates hasn't been seen in public since he and Melinda declared their split on May 3. During that appearance, the 65-year-old was also seen wearing his wedding band. It's unclear where he was during the Zoom call, but he's reported to have been staying at the exclusive Indian Wells, California, golf complex The Vintage Club for the past three months. Joining the Vintage Club costs $250,000. It has a spa, restaurants, and two 18-hole golf courses, and bills itself as "one of the most popular" golf clubs in the United States.
Slew of accusations
Melinda and Bill have not revealed any information about their breakup, but in divorce papers, Melinda said that the marriage is "irretrievably broken." She is said to have started talking to divorce lawyers in October 2019. Gates has transferred more than $3 billion in stock to Melinda after the couple announced their divorce. Gates has stated consistently over the years that he will leave his children just $10 million each, accounting for less than.008% of their parents' overall income.
Since he and Melinda, 56, declared their divorce earlier this month, Gates has been dogged by a slew of accusations. It was revealed this week that when he was married to Melinda, he had an affair with a female Microsoft employee in 2000, according to The Wall Street Journal. The affair was kept hidden until 2019 when the employee wrote a letter to the board of directors explaining what had happened and reportedly requested that Melinda read it. The New York Times reported two separate instances where he asked female employees out on dates.