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Microsoft founder Bill Gates and his wife Melinda divorce after 27 years of marriage.

The two said on Monday in an identical statement on Twitter.

They are planning to go their separate ways privately, but want to continue the work in their joint foundation.

Bill Gates is considered one of the richest people in the world.

The couple's multi-billion dollar foundation is one of the most influential aid organizations in the field of health care and development cooperation.

"After careful consideration and a lot of work on our relationship, we have decided to end our marriage," the two wrote on Twitter.

"We no longer believe that we can grow together as a couple in the next phase of our life."

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"In the past 27 years we have raised three incredible children and built a foundation that works worldwide to enable people to live healthy and productive lives," they said.

This mission will continue, the couple will continue to work together for the foundation, they said.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is the largest foundation in the world.

Last year, the two announced that they would be donating over $ 300 million to help fight the coronavirus.

With a net worth of $ 124 billion, Bill Gates is the fourth richest person in the world, according to Forbes.

Gates founded Microsoft in 1975 together with Paul Allen and thus largely determined the early computer age.

He was Chairman of the Board of Management until 2000 and subsequently gradually withdrew from the company.

He was Chairman of the Board of Directors until 2014, but last year he gave up his seat on the Board of Directors entirely to concentrate on his work for the foundation.