Bill and Melinda Gates are now officially divorced, but remain mum on division of assets

THE divorce between Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates, co-founders of one of the world’s largest private charitable foundations, was finalised on Monday, a court document shows.

The couple filed for divorce on May 3 after 27 years of marriage, but pledged to continue their philanthropic work together.

The couple said at the time that they had reached an agreement on how to divide their marital assets.

No details of that agreement were disclosed in the final divorce order filed on Monday in King County Superior Court in Seattle.

The terms of the division of assets were submitted in a separate document not included in Monday’s dissolution decree, the report said.

But according to divorce documents obtained by TMZ, neither the Microsoft co-founder – who has an estimated net worth of more than $131 billion (R1.8 trillion) – nor his ex will receive spousal support, and she is not expected to change her last name.

The pair’s property will be divided in accordance with a Separation Contract they previously signed.

Bill and his now ex-wife have three adult children. Melinda had reportedly retained divorce lawyers in 2019 amid concerns over revelations of her now former husband’s relationship with convicted paedophile and human trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.

Reports have also alleged that Bill was involved in extramarital trysts, including one with an employee.

The former couple have said they will continue to work together at their foundation that bears their names.

The court did not issue money, property or spousal support judgments in the divorce.

The Seattle-based Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has become one of the most powerful and influential forces in global public health, spending over $50 billion the past two decades on combating poverty and disease.