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Bill and Melinda Gates have announced their divorce after 27 years of marriage, saying “we no longer believe we can grow together as a couple”.

In the statement posted on the verified Twitter handle of the Microsoft founder-turned philanthropist, the pair explained that they decided to settle for the option of a divorce after “a great deal of thoughts and a lot of work” on their relationship.

 

Bill, rated by Forbes as the fourth wealthiest person in the world with a net worth of $124 billion, made his money through Microsoft – the world’s biggest software firm – which was founded in the 1970s.

He later met Melinda in 1987 at Microsoft while he was the Chief Executive Officer at the time, and they both got married in Hawaii in 1994.

The billionaire couple 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.