Melinda French Gates on Friendship with 'Lovely' MacKenzie Scott: 'We Talk About All Kinds of Things'
French Gates spoke about her friendship with Scott, including some of the topics they talk about, during a recent sit-down
Aurelien Meunier/Getty; David Livingston/Getty
Melinda French Gates (left); Mackenzie ScottWhen it comes to her friendship with MacKenzie Scott, Melinda French Gates says there's always plenty to discuss.
In a cover story with Vanity Fair published on Sept. 11, French Gates, 60, opened up about philanthropy, her decision to embrace her political voice and what life has been like since leaving the foundation she co-founded with ex-husband Bill Gates over 20 years ago.
Asked whether Scott, the ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and a fellow philanthropic powerhouse, was somebody she confided in, French Gates said that they "talk about all kinds of things."
“Our kids, what we’re doing in life, how we like to spend our time,” French Gates said, naming several topics, before going on to call Scott, 54, a "lovely, lovely person.”
Over the summer, while speaking with The New York Times, French Gates said she had "huge respect" for Scott, who has been giving billions away since her divorce in 2019 — and just donated $10 million to a Georgia nonprofit that helps fund local small businesses.
"She’s very proud of what she’s doing, and I think she should be," added Gates, who recently announced her own $1 billion donation to support women's rights.
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When asked about the possibility of working together in the future — the pair previously joined forces in 2021 to give $40 million to projects focused on promoting gender equality — French Gates left the door open, saying, "let's just wait and see."
"She certainly has had an effect on me in philanthropy, and I hope I’ve had an effect on her," she added.
Related: Melinda French Gates Resigning from Gates Foundation: 'This Is Not a Decision I Came to Lightly'
Since leaving the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (which will be changing its name to the Gates Foundation), French Gates has opened up about her approach to giving moving forward.
"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 told host Stephen Colbert on his late-night show in July. "Women’s right globally and in the United States has 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."
Speaking withVanity Fair, French Gates said that she hopes to inspire people "who are sitting on great wealth" to give back.
“Sometimes you have to just demonstrate to them how easy it is,” she added. “Or help them sometimes find the person that can be in their organization."
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