On May 3, 2021, two of the wealthiest people in the world sent shockwaves through social media. Bill and Melinda Gates announced they were planning to divorce. After more than a quarter century of marriage, they shared that they had decided to "end" their union.
In a joint statement posted on Twitter, they wrote: "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."
The statement went on, "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 this next phase of our lives."
— Bill Gates (@BillGates) May 3, 2021
At that time, neither Melinda nor Bill shared any further details. The divorce news came as a huge surprise to many since they had been married for close to 30 years. They're involved in many business ventures together, including their Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Now, speculation has not surprisingly turned to how they will divide up their massive fortune, estimated to be around $130 billion.
Some things will be easier to split up than others. Given that their three kids are 18 and older, at least they don't have to work through custody arrangements. And Bill and Melinda have both declared their intention to continue working together on their billion-dollar philanthropic foundation. But there are still many settlement aspects to be hashed out between their companies, their assets, and their bank account. Here's how their staggering fortune could be carved up.
Their Mansion in Washington
Bill and Melinda own a $131 million, 66,000-square-foot estate in Medina, Washington. In 2019, Melinda told The New York Times in an interview that she loves the mansion, but that she was looking forward to living in a much smaller home later in life. Given this, we're guessing she may not be too keen to hold on to this massive property (and take on the massive upkeep that comes with it).
Their Beach House in Del Mar, California
The billionaire couple also owns a $43 million home in scenic Del Mar, California. The property, which they purchased in April 2020, is a gorgeous blend of modern vibes, featuring a greenhouse, ocean views, and the use of glass to get the best view, whether they're inside or hanging by the pool. It's hard to say what will be done with this property. Melinda is going to want to start her new bachelorette life somewhere — maybe beach house is her favorite?
An Equestrian Ranch
In 2018, the couple purchased a horse ranch in Rancho Santa Fe, near San Diego. The property — previously owned by diet industry mogul Jenny Craig — has everything a horse lover could dream of, including a racetrack, a veterinarian office, and stables. This would be a gorgeous place to retire and spend time caring for the beautiful horses. It's unclear whether the Gateses will opt to sell it and split the money, or if one of them will decide to claim it for their own.
A Desert Getaway
When they have more money than they will ever need in several lifetimes, Bill and Melinda can own as many homes as they want. And it feels like they do. Also up for grabs is their desert getaway home in Indian Wells, California. In 1999, the couple paid $12.5 million for this six-bedroom abode that's close to a golf club.
Several Lots in Wellington, Florida
Melinda and Bill have so many properties, it's hard to keep track of them all. Reports show that the power couple purchased several acres in Wellington, Florida, where they use the property for horse farms. They also acquired a lot of land for their equestrian daughter, Jennifer, so chances are that they may just gift the Wellington property to Jennifer instead of trying to divvy it up.
Yellowstone Mountain Club, Big Sky, Montana
What does the Gates family do when they want to go skiing? Well, they head to their ultra-exclusive ski club near Yellowstone National Park. It's a members-only ski mountain, which means they never have to fight for spot on the lift or be bothered by people who recognize them. It offers their own personal getaway, anytime they want.
They Reportedly Also Have a Montana Home
The Gateses are members of the club, which comes with a $300,000 fee, plus close to $40,000 in yearly dues – on top of needing to own a home in the area, which can cost between $4 and $25 million. It's hard to say which of the two exes will keep this asset, but it makes sense for the one who will use it most to take ownership of it.
So Much Farmland
Bill and Melinda not only own a lot of houses but a lot of land as well. It's hard to know if the acreage is in Bill's name only or if Melinda is also a co-owner, but in addition to their vast property portfolio, they have a large stake in farmland that spans all across the country.
The Largest Personal Owner of Farmland
According to statistics, Bill owns more than 242,000 acres across 18 different states, including Arizona, Nebraska, Louisiana, and Colorado, just to name a few. He hasn't publicly spoken about his farmland or any plans regarding the development of it, so it's hard to know how or if these particular assets will be divided up in the divorce settlement.
A Fleet of Cars
Including One Very Expensive Car
One of Bill's vehicles is said to be worth approximately $2 million, which could be fetched at a specialized car auction. The car is an extremely rare Porsche 959, of which only a few hundred are in existence. Bill apparently waited 13 years for it to arrive after buying it since it required a special passage law to use in the US. Given how hard it was to get his hands on the car, we're guessing he won't want to let this one go.
Microsoft Stock & Others
It's no surprise that these two have a lot of money, and a large portion of their net worth is in stocks. Bill stepped down from Microsoft in 2014, but he still owns a portion of the Fortune 500 company. He also owns equity in Branded Entertainment Network and he is chairman of a nuclear reactor design company. On the same day that the couple announced their separation, three stocks worth $3 billion were transferred into Melinda's name, and there's expected to be many more.
Private Jets
Rich people have private jets, and it's easy for us to underestimate how much they're worth — and Bill and Melinda have more than one. It's hard to get a good read on what exactly they do have, but they reportedly own a Cessna Seaplane, a collection of helicopters, two Gulfstream G650ERs that go for $65 million each, and two Bombardier Challenger 350s. We're guessing Melinda will be content with just one of the planes for her travel. They seem more of Bill's thing anyway.
Valuable Artwork & Books
When we say that Bill and Melinda own a library — we don't mean like the ones we have in our houses. We don't even mean the community library we've visited with our kids. In their home, the Gates family owns some of the world's oldest and most prized books. One rare title in their collection alone is said to be worth $30 million. Add to this their impressive art collection, which includes one oil painting worth $36 million. After their divorce, the Gateses will likely leave the collection intact and perhaps even strike a deal with a major museum to put it on display for the public to enjoy.
There's Probably Much, Much More
These two are richer than almost anyone else in the world, and they have to spend their money somewhere. We're certain there is a lot more to their financial standing than they've spoken about publicly. They likely have sizable jewelry, watch, and wine collections. Expensive computer and tech gadgets are presumably also part of their financial portfolio.
Since they both have sufficient funds to live comfortably and in the style they're used to for lifetimes to come, we bet they'll dish it out as fairly as possible in the end. If only all celebrity divorces could be so amicable.
