Bill and Melinda Gates have announced their decision to separate after 27 years of marriage.
Microsoft co-founder Bill, 65, married Melinda in 1994 and together they have three adult children - Jennifer, 24, Rory, 21 and Phoebe, 18.
For the last decade the pair have been working full-time for their charity the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which aims to reduce global poverty and improve healthcare standards in poorer countries.
In a statement on social media announcing their split, they said: "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.
"We continue to share a belief in that mission and will continue our work together at the foundation, but we no longer believe we can grow together as a couple in the next phase of our lives.
"We ask for space and privacy for our family as we begin to navigate this new life."
Bill is currently the fourth richest person in the world and is estimated to be worth $133 billion (£95.6 billion).
Neil Wilkes
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