Bill and Melinda Gates Are Divorcing After 27 Years of Marriage

Microsoft founder Bill Gates and his wife Melinda have announced they are divorcing after 27 years of marriage. 

Gates, 65, and Melinda, 56, announced the split through a joint statement on Monday.

“After a great deal of thought and a lot of work, we have made the decision to end our marriage,” the statement reads.

“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 to work together at the foundation, but we no longer believe we can grow together as a couple in this next phase of our lives.”

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

The two have three children—Jennifer, 25, Rory, 21, and Phoebe, 18.  

Gates founded Microsoft in 1975 and was named the world's youngest billionaire at the age of 31 in 1987, the same year he met Melinda.