Microsoft co-founder, Bill Gates, has announced separation from his wife, Melinda.
The couple are parting ways after 27 years of marriage.
In a statement, Bill and Melinda said they no longer believe they can grow together as a couple.
“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,” the statement read.
— Bill Gates (@BillGates) May 3, 2021
The two, who met in the late 1980s, got married in 1994. They have three children – Jennifer, Rory and Phoebe.
They jointly run the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which was founded in 2000.
Gates, the fourth richest man in the world has a net worth of $130 billion.
Financial details of their parting ways are not yet clear, according to CNBC.
Gates owns 1.37% of Microsoft’s outstanding shares, which are worth more than $26 billion, according to FactSet.
