Bill Gates wears wedding ring in first appearance since divorce from Melinda Gates

He is in the midst of a high-profile divorce. And Bill Gates’ first public appearance since his marriage ended has raised eyebrows.

Tech billionaire Bill Gates made his first public appearance since his bombshell divorce announcement, and was still wearing his wedding ring despite his messy break-up from wife Melinda.

The Microsoft co-founder took part in an “armchair conversation” with the US Chamber of Commerce chief executive Suzanne Clark, where he discussed the COVID-19 pandemic.

And in a bizarre move, Gates was still wearing his wedding ring on his left ring finger, New York Post reported.

Gates — who joined the forum virtually — was animated as he discussed preparation for preventing the next health threat from escalating to a pandemic.

Microsoft founder Bill Gates seems to be holding on to his wedding ring. Picture: AFP

“We’ve learned a lot that will help us for the next pandemic and by making some investments in [research and development], and then having factories available, having surveillance and a big team of experts on a global basis, we will next time handle something like this without anywhere near the damage that we had to go through,” Gates said.

It’s unclear which of Gates’ luxury homes he joined the summit from, but he has been keeping to himself in recent weeks at an ultra-exclusive golf club in Indian Wells, California, where he owns property, a source told Page Six.

The virtual conference was the first time he returned to the spotlight since he split from his wife of 27 years, Melinda Gates, earlier this month.

His appearance also came on the heels of explosive revelations that he allegedly made unwanted advances on women he worked with at both Microsoft and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

He confirmed that he had an affair with a Microsoft employee, who reportedly penned a letter about the relationship that reached the company’s board in 2019 and prompted them to bring in an outside law firm to launch an investigation.

Bill Gates, right, raised eyebrows in his latest appearance since his split from wife Melinda. Picture: AFP

Though he resigned from the company’s board during the probe, he has denied that his departure had anything to do with the relationship.

“There was an affair almost 20 years ago which ended amicably,” a spokeswoman told the Wall Street Journal.

He has blasted the “rumours and speculation” surrounding the end of his marriage.

“It is extremely disappointing that there have been so many untruths published about the cause, the circumstances and the timeline of Bill Gates’s divorce,” a spokeswoman, Bridgitt Arnold, told the New York Times.

CELEBRITY LAWYERS

Both Bill and Melinda have hired high-powered divorce lawyers with experience in costly splits.

Each has added high-powered attorneys who worked on opposite ends of the divorce of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos from his ex-wife Mackenzie Scott.

Bill has employed Ted Billbe from Scott’s team and Melinda hired Sherri Anderson who had previously worked on Bezos’ team, according to CNN.

Bezos and Scott announced their split in 2019. After the expensive divorce, Scott ended up the third-richest woman in the world.

Melinda and Bill Gates have engaged high-powered divorce lawyers in their split. Picture: Getty Images

Bill Gates, 65, and Melinda, 56, filed for divorce May 3, after 27 years of marriage. The Gates’ are estimated to have $US130 billion in assets and no prenuptial agreement.

But they do reportedly have a “separation agreement,” which outlines terms of a split and is usually signed at the end of a marriage. Melinda is not seeking spousal support in the divorce.

Originally published as Bill Gates wears wedding ring in first appearance since divorce from Melinda Gates