'Consent to 175 Trillion Won Property Division'... Bill Gates Couple Officially Divorced

(Photo by Bloomberg)

[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] Billionaire and founder of the world's largest software company Microsoft (MS), Bill Gates, and his wife Melinda French Gates have officially divorced after 27 years of marriage.

On the 2nd (local time), the US economic media CNBC reported this citing divorce-related documents submitted to the King County Court in Washington State, USA.

This comes three months after they announced their divorce on May 3 through a joint statement on Twitter, saying they "could no longer grow together." Accordingly, the couple has completely separated after 27 years of marriage.

The US court allows a 90-day waiting period from the time the divorce application is filed until the final confirmation.

The two agreed on a property division contract involving Bill Gates' assets worth approximately 175 trillion won, but the specific details were not submitted to the court, the report said.

According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Bill Gates ranks 4th among the wealthiest individuals worldwide, currently holding a net worth of $152 billion (174.952 trillion won).

Bloomberg News stated, "Washington State stipulates that spouses have equal rights to all property accumulated during the marriage," adding, "The Gates couple drafted a division agreement approved by the court, and the contents will remain confidential."

Since the couple has no minor children, issues related to child custody or child support were not included in the court's divorce confirmation documents.

Also, Melinda Gates signed the divorce papers but did not request a name change at the court.

Bill Gates and Melinda Gates began dating in 1987, married in 1994, and jointly established the charitable organization 'Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation' in 2000.

At the time of the divorce announcement in May, the two stated they would continue to jointly operate the foundation, but now that the divorce is finalized, CNBC reported that there is a possibility they may part ways in the foundation's management as well.

Recently, Melinda Gates donated $10 million each to four organizations working for gender equality, totaling $40 million, following MacKenzie Scott, ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.