Long Before Divorce, Bill Gates Had Reputation for Questionable Behavior Melinda French Gates voiced concerns about her husband’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and a harassment claim against his money manager. A spokeswoman for Bill Gates said claims that he mistreated employees were false.Credit...Elaine Thompson/Associated Press May 16, 2021, 3:17 p.m. ET By the time Melinda French Gates decided to end her 27-year marriage, her husband was known globally as a software pioneer, a billionaire and a leading philanthropist. But in some circles, Bill Gates had also developed a reputation for questionable conduct in work-related settings. That is attracting new scrutiny amid the breakup of one of the world’s richest, most powerful couples.