Melinda Gates has always had an independent streak. When she was still Melinda French and a young employee working at Microsoft in 1987, Bill Gates flirted with her in the carpark and asked if she would go out with him in two weeks.
She turned him down. "That's not spontaneous enough for me," she told him. "Ask me out closer to the date."
Already a subscriber? Log in
Dive deeper at $0.99/month
Want more exclusives, sharp insights into what's happening at home and abroad? Subscribe to stay informed.
ST One Digital Package - Monthly
$9.90 $0.99/month
No contract
$0.99/month for the first 3 months, $9.90/month thereafter. T&Cs apply.
Unlock these benefits
All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com
Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device
2-week e-paper archive so you never miss out on any topic that matters to you
