Bill and Melinda Gates to divorce

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and his wife Melinda Gates are divorcing after nearly 30 years of marriage, The New York Times reports. 

Two of the wealthiest people in the world, the couple has developed a reputation as influential philanthropists. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has an endowment of about $5 billion, doling out grants related to global health, education in the United States and other initiatives, and has played a major role in guiding the response to the COVID-19 pandemic internationally, particularly by investing in vaccine development. 

While the foundation is largely focused on national and international challenges, it has played a role in funding New York-based organizations and local issues. Nonprofits such as the Harlem Children’s Zone and Educators for Excellence received grants from the foundation just this past year. It also faced some controversy last year after Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced in May that the state would partner with it to “reimagine education” during the pandemic, as education groups decried its record on initiatives such as Common Core standards.

The two plan to remain as co-chairs of and trustees of the foundation, with a foundation spokesperson saying there are no plans to change their roles or the organization. 

“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,” Bill Gates wrote on Twitter yesterday. “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.”