Ex spouses Bill and Melinda Gates put on a show of unity this week when they came together to celebrate their daughter Jennifer’s graduation from Columbia University.
Jennifer, 27, received her master’s degree in public health this week, and her billionaire parents came together to support her – two years after they split. The graduation ceremony is one of only a handful of occasions they have been seen together since their divorce was announced.
The mother-of-one shared a snap of herself posing in her cap and gown alongside Bill, 67, and Melinda, 58, as well as her husband, Nayel Nassar.
‘Thank you @ColumbiaPublicHealth for this incredible educational opportunity and the village around me who made this possible,’ she captioned it. ‘Grateful.’
Putting their differences aside: Exes Bill and Melinda Gates reunited to celebrate their daughter Jennifer’s graduation from Columbia University
Jennifer, 27, received her master’s degree in public health this week, and her billionaire parents were by her side to commemorate the feat
Impressive: The mother-of-one also revealed on her Stories that she received an award for ‘Excellence in General Public Health’
In the photo, Melinda donned a pink and orange dress with a matching sweater, while the Microsoft founder opted for a navy blue suit.
Jennifer – who gave birth to her first child, a baby girl whose name has not been shared yet, back in April – also revealed on her Stories that she received an award for ‘Excellence in General Public Health.’
While they were together, Bill and Melinda welcomed three children – including Jennifer, and her siblings Rory, 23, and Phoebe , 20
This isn’t the first time that Bill and Melinda put their differences aside to be there for their kids.
They also reunited to walk daughter Jennifer down the aisle at her wedding to Nayel in October 2021.
The former couple announced that they were divorcing in May 2021 after 27 years of marriage.
Five months later, Melinda spoke out about the ‘unbelievably painful’ split to Fortune magazine, while explaining that she ‘just couldn’t stay in that marriage anymore.’
‘I had some reasons I just couldn’t stay in that marriage anymore,’ she explained. ‘It’s unbelievably painful, in innumerable ways, but I had the privacy to get through it.’
While they were together, the pair welcomed three children – including Jennifer, and her siblings Rory, 23, and Phoebe, 20.
This isn’t the first time they put their differences aside to be there for their kids. They also reunited to walk daughter Jennifer down the aisle at her wedding to Nayel in October 2021
Expanding their family: Jennifer gave birth to her first child, a baby girl whose name has not been shared yet, back in April
The former couple (seen with Jennifer’s baby) announced that they were divorcing in May 2021 after 27 years of marriage
They also founded the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation together in 2000, and after going their separate ways, the exes continued to run the organization together – which Melinda said helped her get through the split.
‘I kept working with the person I was moving away from, and I needed to show up and be my best self every single day,’ she explained.
‘So even though I might be crying at 9am and then have to be on a video-conference at 10am with the person I’m leaving, I have to show up and be my best.’
Melinda previously told Good Morning America that her and ex-husband’s ‘philanthropy’ helped them get through their split, claiming that it ‘held them together, allowed more grace’ and ‘smoothed’ things over during some of the most ‘difficult’ aspects of the breakup.
Five months later, Melinda spoke out about the ‘unbelievably painful’ split to Fortune magazine, while explaining that she ‘just couldn’t stay in that marriage anymore’
There’s been rumors that she has moved on with ex-Fox News host Jon Du Pre (seen), 68
Bill is reportedly dating philanthropist Paula Kalupa (pictured together in March), 60
‘Our philanthropy actually called us to be our best selves, even during the most difficult times behind-the-scenes,’ she said in August 2022.
‘We were working through the specifics of the divorce and there was sadness, but we were still both showing up for the foundation.
‘I think that held us together and allowed more grace during that period, and since then, it’s kind of smoothed things over on the back end.’
She added that her ‘main concern’ was always ‘protecting her kids’ and that she is thankful that she and Bill have now ‘gotten to the other side.’
There’s been rumors that she has moved on with ex-Fox News host Jon Du Pre, 68, while Bill is reportedly dating philanthropist Paula Kalupa, 60.
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