Bill and Melinda Gates finalize their divorce

Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates, cofounders of one of the world's largest private charitable foundations,  finalized their divorce on Monday, a court document showed.

The couple on May 3 announced they were getting divorced after 27 years of marriage, but pledged to continue their philanthropic work together.

The Gateses said at the time that they had reached agreement on how to divide their marital assets, without disclosing the details.

No details of that agreement were disclosed in the final divorce order, filed in King county superior court in Seattle.

The court did not issue money, property or spousal support judgments in the divorce. It said the couple must comply with the terms of the separation contract that was not filed in King county superior court.

The Seattle-based Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has become one of the most powerful and influential forces in global public health, spending more than $50bn over the past two decades to bring a business approach to combating poverty and disease.

The Gateses have backed widely praised programs in malaria and polio eradication, child nutrition and vaccines. The foundation last year committed $1.75bn to Covid-19 relief.