Melinda Gates reveals why she first turned down Bill Gates

They're one of the most influential couples in the world today, but Melinda Gates says it wasn't love at first sight with Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. In fact, she actually turned the billionaire down the first time he asked her out.

In an interview with AOL Makers, Melinda recounted when she had just started at Microsoft as a product manager in 1987. After several months, the Microsoft CEO finally asked out Melinda.

"He said, 'You know, I was thinking maybe we could go out two weeks from (tonight),'" Melinda told AOL's Makers. But Melinda promptly shut down the offer.

"Two weeks from tonight? I have no idea what I'm doing two weeks from tonight...you aren't spontaneous enough for me."

However, Bill was still determined to win over Melinda. "He called me about an hour later and he said, 'Is this spontaneous enough for you?'" Gates told AOL Makers. "And I said, 'Okay, I guess that's pretty spontaneous. I guess we can try.'"

The couple dated for seven years before marrying in 1994. Bill Gates is currently listed as the richest man in the world with a net worth of $79.2 billion, according to Forbes. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has an endowment of $43.5 billion, which has been spread towards multiple philanthropic causes across the globe.

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