View gallery Image Credit: Shutterstock Melinda French Gates and her ex-husband Bill Gates stunned the world in May 2021 when they announced the end of their 27-year marriage and vowed to continue their work together in philanthropy despite growing apart. In their joint statement at the time, it read, "After a great deal of thought and a lot of work on our relationship, we have made the decision to end our marriage. 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.