The couple, who agreed to give away more than half their wealth, will keep working together on charitable efforts.
Bill Gates, co-founder and former CEO of Microsoft, and his wife, Melinda French Gates, announced via Twitter on Monday that they will divorce after 27 years. They were quick to add that they will keep working together on philanthropic efforts, which have addressed education, gender equality and health care.
“After a great deal of thought and a lot of work on our relationship, we have made the decision to end our marriage,” the couple wrote in a statement that Bill Gates tweeted out.
“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.”
