The pair got married in 1994.
Yesterday, Bill and Melinda Gates announced that after 27 years of marriage, they are getting a divorce.
In their statement, they confirmed that they would continue to work together on their philanthropic venture, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Bill Gates shared a joint statement from the couple on social media yesterday:
“After a great deal of thought and a lot of work on our relationship, we have made the decision to end our marriage
“Over the last 27 years, we have raised three incredible children and built a foundation that works all over the world to enable all people to lead healthy, productive lives.
“We continue to share a belief in that mission and will continue our work together at the foundation, but we no longer believe we can grow together as a couple in this next phase of our lives.
“We ask for space and privacy for our family as we begin to navigate this new life.”
— Bill Gates (@BillGates) May 3, 2021
Melinda married the Microsoft founder in 1994. Melinda had been working at the technology company when they met. With an estimated net worth of $130 billion, the couple were one of the wealthiest couples in the world. They have three children together: Jennifer, Rory and Phoebe.
The couple launched the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2000. The foundation, which is the largest private foundation in the world, holds $46.8 billion in assets.
The main goal of the organisation is to enhance healthcare, reduce poverty and promote education around the world.
In 2008, Bill Gates stepped down from full-time work at Microsoft to devote more time to philanthropy.
Last year, he left his board positions at both Microsoft and Berkshire Hathaway to work solely on his philanthropic endeavors.
