Long before divorce, Bill Gates had reputation for questionable behaviour 16 May, 2021 09:24 PM 10 minutes to read A spokeswoman for Bill Gates said claims that he mistreated employees were false. Photo / AP New York Times By: Emily Flitter and Matthew Goldstein Melinda French Gates voiced concerns about her husband's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and a harassment claim against his money manager. 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.