Highlights She is an author of The Moment of Lift Melinda and Bill Gates have announced separation after 27 long years of their marriage. NEW DELHI: Melinda Gates, the wife of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and the co-chair of the world's largest private charitable foundation, has announced separation after 27 long years of their marriage. The two, however, said that they would continue to work together at the In identical tweets, they said they had made the decision to end their marriage of 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,” the duo said in a statement.