Melinda French Gates on Turning 60, Being 'Sole Decision-Maker' in Her Philanthropy: 'It's Different Than Before'

Melinda French Gates just celebrated a milestone birthday — and is reflecting on the “exciting” opportunities ahead of her when it comes to giving back and making a difference.

“I feel extraordinarily energized about the work ahead,” French Gates, 60, told Vanity Fair in a new interview, published on Wednesday, Sept. 11. “It feels like now is the right time. I never realized that going into my sixth decade, turning 60, could be so exciting.” 

“Now I’m the sole decision-maker about these resources," the Pivotal Ventures founder added of her philanthropic efforts. "So that’s just — it’s different than before. Quite honestly, it feels quite good.”

French Gates, whose divorce from Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates was finalized in August 2021, said that with such wealth, which still feels "surreal," comes a “great responsibility.”

“The weighty part is when you go out in the field and you see the needs of people on the ground. You see how they’re struggling to make ends meet. A single mom whose mother gets sick, who used to be her childcare for her four-month-old baby, that’s what’s hard," she added. “What can philanthropic dollars and/or investment dollars and/or good government policy or government resources, what can they do to help support that mom?”

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The mother of three — who recently announced a $1 billion pledge to help support women's rights — has been candid before about the causes she's most passionate about supporting.

After stepping down from the Gates Foundation in June, she opened up about her commitment to protecting and strengthening women’s rights

"What I am doing now in full force is making sure that women’s rights are not only on the agenda, but that women are setting the agenda," French Gates said during an appearance The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

She added, "Women’s rights globally and in the United States have been rolled back. The fact that my granddaughter will have fewer rights right now because of the Supreme Court than I had makes zero sense to me."

"One of the things I’m doing is making sure that we have far more women running for office, being able to raise funds for their positions and that they are really well trained on the legislative agenda they want to help get passed," French Gates continued. "There’s 7,000 seats at the state house level and getting women into those positions, they create great policy and it’s a great training ground then to go onto the hill in DC."

In the Vanity Fair article, French Gates also spoke out about endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris — who happens to be turning 60 next month — in the 2024 presidential race.

"We are like-minded on many issues,” French Gates said. "She sees the issues society faces today. She’s not an old-school ‘Let’s have all males at the table.' "

At another point in the profile, the philanthropist said that in turning 60, you can't help but be "reflective."

"You’re at a point in life where you realize, my gosh, we all make transitions all the time. Some we wanted to make, some we didn’t expect. But I think by the time you get to 60, you’re more reflective of those," she said. "And also: What do you want to do, going forward, with your next 10 or 20 years?”