Tech billionaire Bill Gates and wife Melinda are divorcing, he has announced tonight (Monday).
The Microsoft Corporation co-founder and wife, who have been married for 27 years, announced that they will continue their philanthropic work together through the jointly-run Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
However, they will no longer be a couple.
In a statement on Twitter, they said: "After a great deal of thought and a lot of work on our relationship, we have made a decision to end our marriage.
"Over the last 27 years, we have raise three incredible children and build 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 pair have three children.
Bill Gates is listed by Forbes magazine as the fourth richest man in the world.
On his blog, Bill describes himself as a technologist, business leader, and philanthropist.
The couple launched the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in 2000, in an effort to help the world's poorest people and 'give his wealth back to society'.
