Co-founder of Microsoft and one of the richest men in the world, Bill Gates and his wife, Melinda, have announced their decision to divorce after 27 years of marriage.
A statement announcing their divorce was posted on Twitter on Monday.
“We no longer believe we can grow together as a couple.
“After a great deal of thought and a lot of work on our relationship, we have made the decision to end our marriage,” the statement said.
According to the BBC, the couple first met in the 1980s when Melinda joined Bill’s Microsoft firm.
They have three children and jointly run the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
The organisation has spent billions fighting causes such as infectious diseases and encouraging vaccinations in children.
The Gates – along with investor Warren Buffett – are behind the Giving Pledge, which calls on billionaires to commit to giving away the majority of their wealth to good causes.
Bill Gates is the fourth wealthiest person in the world, according to Forbes, and is worth $124 billion
He made his money through the firm he co-founded in the 1970s, Microsoft, the world’s biggest software company.
“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,” they posted on Twitter.
“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 the next phase of our lives.
“We ask for space and privacy for our family as we begin to navigate this new life.”
Melinda joined Microsoft as a product manager in 1987 after which they started dating and got married in 1994 on the Hawaiian island of Lanai.
They were reported to have hired up all the local helicopters to stop unwanted guests flying over.
Bill Gates stepped down from Microsoft’s board last year to focus on his philanthropic activities.
