Philanthropists Bill and Melinda Gates have split and are getting a divorce after 27 years of marriage.
The Microsoft co-founder and his wife announced the news via a joint Twitter statement on Monday.
"After a great deal of thought and a lot of work on our relationship, we have made the decision to end our marriage," they commented. "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."
Bill, who is one of the world's wealthiest men and worth a reported $130 billion, and Melinda started dating in 1987 after meeting at a trade show in New York.
They wed on New Year’s Day in 1994 and share three children.
The couple launched the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in 2000.
