Bill Gates, the founder of the US technology company Microsoft, and his wife Melinda announced on Monday the divorce after 27 years of marriage.
Gates is one of the richest couples in the world, with an estimated total wealth of $ 130 billion, and they have donated tens of billions of dollars to charity through their combined Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Announcing the divorce, the couple said they would continue their joint work with a foundation that funds programs in health, gender, education and other areas.
“After much thought and a lot of work on our relationship, we have decided to end our marriage,” Gates said in a joint statement. “Over the last 27 years, we have raised three incredible children and built a foundation that works around the world to help people lead healthy, productive lives.”
“We still have a shared belief in this mission and we will continue to work together in the foundation, but we no longer believe we can grow together as a couple in the next phase of our lives,” the statement said. “We ask for space and privacy for our family as we begin our journey in this new life.”
The notice does not provide other information about the divorce.
Bill Gates is 65 years old, but Melinda is 56. They met in 1987, shortly after Melinda joined Gates’ Microsoft and married in 1994.
Their fund is one of the richest in the world and has provided more than $ 54 billion in grants over the past two decades.
Last year, the fund allocated $ 250 million to fight the coronavirus pandemic, and part of the money went to distributing vaccines in Africa and South Asia.-
Two years ago, another of the world’s richest people, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, and his wife, Mackenzie Scott, announced their divorce.
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