Bill Gates’ marriage to Melinda French Gates may be over, but it doesn’t mean the Microsoft co-founder has recovered from the split. Instead, the 65-year-old software developer is taking time to reflect on the past and use what he’s learned to move forward.

During the Wednesday episode of the CNN program “Anderson Cooper 360,” Gates opened up to the host about his divorce from French Gates.

“Definitely a very sad milestone … and Melinda’s a great person and that partnership that we had coming to an end is a source of great personal sadness,” Gates told Cooper.

The former couple is expected to continue working together at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. However, French Gates will step down from the organization if the pair cannot get along after two years.

Bill and Melinda Gates announced their plans to divorce in May. The former couple finalized their divorce earlier this week.

Along with reflecting on the end of his marriage, Gates also shared his regrets about his business ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, which French Gates reportedly didn’t approve of. Gates revealed he was hoping to get Epstein to finance charities.

“It was a huge mistake to spend time with him, to give him the credibility of being there. There were lots of others in that situation, but I made a mistake,” he said.

“I had several dinners with him hoping that what he said about getting billions of philanthropy for global health through contacts that he had might emerge. When it looked like that wasn’t a real thing, that relationship ended.”

Gates’ comments about his ties to Epstein come almost two years after denying having “any business relationship or friendship” with the financier.

Bill Gates
Bill Gates is pictured in October 2019. AFP / Ludovic MARIN
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