Power couple Bill and Melinda Gates are set to part ways after 27 years of marriage, in a move that could trigger one of the most complex splits in recent history.
The couple tied the knot in 1994 - seven years after first being introduced at a business meeting - and despite admitting ‘incredibly hard’ times during their relationship, they completed almost three decades together.
The divorce could now see Bill Gates fall to number 17 on the official billionaires’ rich list where he currently holds the fourth place.
When the pair first met, Microsoft had a market capitalization of about $35billion.
Now, that figure is almost $2trillion, and Microsoft is one of the most valuable companies in the world.
Bill Gates – the co-founder - has an estimated net worth of $124billion, which grew from $98billion in 2020, according to Forbes.
Forbes named Melinda Gates one of the most powerful women in philanthropy, placing her at the No. 5 spot on its "Power Women 2020" list. The businesswoman is understood to have a networth of $70billion.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has donated upward of $250million to coronavirus-response efforts since the pandemic began in March 2020.
Despite their split, the couple have said they will continue to dedicate much of their lives to philanthropic causes through the Bill and Melinda Gate Foundation.
They launched the organization in 2000 and have given billions to global health, poverty, and education.
The couple have also said they plan to leave no wealth behind when they die.
Each of the Gates children will inherit $10million, Bill Gates has said, and the rest of the family's fortune will go to charity.
Details about the divorce are unclear, but it is understood that the couple could part ways with an amicable 50:50 split.
The resulting settlement could be one of the largest ever. When Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and his wife, MacKenzie, split up in 2019, their settlement was $38billion.
The settlement made MacKenzie Scott the third-wealthiest woman.
"After a great deal of thought and a lot of work on our relationship, we have made the decision to end our marriage," Melinda Gates and the Microsoft cofounder both said on Monday.
"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 philanthropists said in the statement that they planned to continue to work together on the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
