The Gates’ announce divorce after 27 years of marriage

Renowned billionaire, Bill Gates and his wife Melinda Gates have announced their divorce after 27 years of marriage.

Read also: Check Out the Reason for the Gates’ Divorce

The couple have three children together and posted a statement announcing their divorce on microblogging platform Twitter.

According to them, they believe they can no longer grow together as a couple and this decision was made after “a great deal of thought and a lot of work” on their relationship. Although, this decision to divorce would not affect the foundation they have together.

“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,” The statement read.

“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 the next phase of our lives.

“We ask for space and privacy for our family as we begin to navigate this new life.”

Through out their marriage, their desire to be philanthropists was deeply rooted and it was no surprise when Bill stepped down from Microsoft’s board last year to pursue his philanthropic activities.

The billionaire couple jointly run the Bill & Melinda Gates foundation. This foundation has funded many causes fighting infectious diseases and encouraging vaccination in children with billions.

Over the past two decades, the foundation has become one the most influential forces in global public health, spending more than $50 million to fighting poverty and disease.

The Gates, together with fellow billionaire and investor Warren Buffet created the giving pledge in 2010. This was set up to urge billionaires to pledge majority of their wealth to charity and good causes. Over 170 other billionaires have joined the cause ever since its inception 11 years ago.

Bill and Melinda first met in the 1980s when the latter joined Microsoft as a product manager in 1987. Two of them sat at a business dinner that year in New York.

They began dating and subsequently got married on the Hawaiian Island of Lanai in 1994.

Bill Gates is the fourth richest man in the world with a net-worth of $124bn according to Forbes. He made his money through Microsoft cooperation- a company he co-founded in the 1970s. Microsoft his the biggest software cooperation in the world.

Upon their divorce, they have both reached an agreement to divide their marital assets. Details of this agreement remain undisclosed in the filing in King County Superior Court in Seattle. However, the couple is estimated to have an asset at $146 billion by Bloomberg.