Bill Gates Reportedly Stepped Down from Microsoft's Board After Investigation of Affair with Staffer

More details are emerging about Bill Gates stepping down from the board of Microsoft last year.

The Wall Street Journal writes that the founder was being investigated by an outside law firm regarding allegations that he had conducted an affair with one of the company’s engineers.

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According to the report, one of Microsoft’s board members began the investigation after the engineer came forward about her years-long sexual relationship with Bill Gates that began in 2000.

The outlet said that in 2019 the board came to a consensus that Bill should step down, which he eventually did in 2020.

At the time of his departure, he said the decision reflected his intent to focus more on
“philanthropic priorities including global health and development, education, and my increasing engagement in tackling climate change.”

A rep for Bill Gates told People, “There was an affair almost 20 years ago which ended amicably. Bill‘s decision to transition off the board was in no way related to this matter. In fact, he had expressed an interest in spending more time on his philanthropy starting several years earlier.”

A spokesperson for Microsoft added in a separate statement to the outlet, “Microsoft received a concern in the latter half of 2019 that Bill Gates sought to initiate an intimate relationship with a company employee in the year 2000. A committee of the Board reviewed the concern, aided by an outside law firm to conduct a thorough investigation. Throughout the investigation, Microsoft provided extensive support to the employee who raised the concern.”

Bill announced his divorce from his wife Melina Gates after 27 years of marriage earlier this month. A source later revealed what happened in the weeks leading up to their split.