American businessman, founder of Microsoft Bill Gates and his wife Melinda Gates have announced that they are divorcing. Their 27-year marriage was registered in 1994. Melinda Gates filed for a divorce. As per the court documents, the duo does not have a prenuptial agreement, as the documents only outline that there is a separation contract between Bill and Melinda Gates.
“After much deliberation and hard work on our relationship, we have decided to dissolve the marriage,” they said in a joint statement. “Over the past 27 years, we have raised three incredible children and created a foundation that works around the world to ensure a healthy and productive life for all people.”
As per to Gates, they no longer believe that they can “be together as a couple in the next stage of life.”
Melinda Gates has not asked for any spousal support. The couple has requested a trial date in April 2022.
In 2000, they founded the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, a private charity. Bill Gates, who co-founded Microsoft, left the company’s board of directors last year, and has since focused primarily on charity. He still owns about 1.3% of Microsoft. According to Forbes, his fortune is about 130 billion dollars, and he is fourth on the list of the richest people in the world.
According to the financial statements, the assets of the Gates Foundation are nearly $ 50 billion, and for the past 20 years, it has been considered the largest private charity in the world. Every year during 2018 and 2019, the fund allocated about $ 5 billion in grants. In recent months, the fund has provided $ 1.75 billion to develop and distribute tests, treatments and vaccines against COVID-19. In particular, a $ 4.9 million grant was awarded to the German company BioNTech, which together with Pfizer created the first vaccine against coronavirus.
In their divorce petition, Bill and Melinda said they would continue to work together as part of a charity mission.