It’s a Hot Billionaire Summer for Bill Gates, whose divorce from former wife Melinda has just been finalized.
A judge put the final signature on their divorce Monday, bringing a 27-year marriage to a close. Melinda filed for divorce back in May, calling their marriage “irretrievably broken.” However, the couple vowed to continue working with one another on their Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Their divorce agreement states that Melinda will keep her last name and neither will seek spousal support. The former lovers share three adult children, so child support was not a factor. Since there was no prenuptial agreement in place, the two will divide their assets in accordance with their separation agreement.
The Gateses tied the knot in 1994 in Hawaii after Melinda began working at Bill’s company, Microsoft, in 1987 as a product manager.
While details of their agreement are limited, Melinda will remain comfortable financially. According to Fox Business, she previously acquired 25.8 million shares of Coca-Cola Femsa, which was worth nearly $121 million as of Wednesday’s close, in addition to other stock transfers.
Even if Bill did have to spend a few billion on his divorce, it is merely a drop in the bucket for the world’s fourth wealthiest man, who is worth an estimated $124 billion.
