Bill and Melinda Gates decides to end their 27-year marriage
Bill and Melinda Gates have issued a joint statement announcing their decision to end their 27-year marriage as they asked for privacy.
Gates is known to be the person behind Microsoft. He was able to turn it into one of the most dominant forces in the then still emerging business of personal computing. He handed the role of CEO to longtime colleague Steve Ballmer in 2000.
Bill Gates scaled back involvement in the day-to-day operations of Microsoft in 2008. He focused more on the foundation’s work and remained active at the Redmond, Wash., company. He was its chairman until 2014, when Satya Nadella became CEO and Mr. Gates became a regular board member.
His personal stake in Microsoft is worth around $26 billion, according to FactSet. At the foundation, Melinda Gates, born Melinda French, has played a high-profile public role on par with that of her husband. Both in remote places and political power centers, she has represented the organization.
They say that it aims to fight poverty, disease, and inequity. Thus, the foundation gives away billions of dollars annually in direct grants. It has committed more than $1.75 billion to back the global response to the Covid-19 pandemic. It included efforts to produce 100 million doses of vaccines for poorer countries. Forbes said the organization is the world’s largest private charitable foundation.
After a wonderful 27 years together full of accomplishments, they decided to publicly end it. It is through their verified Twitter accounts and Facebook pages.
Melinda said,
After a great deal of thought and a lot of work on our relationship, we have made the decision to end our marriage. 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.
Despite their separation, the couple assured that the work that was started with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will continue.
They said,
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.
