Gates Divorce Proceedings Begin Friday: Here's What To Know

SEATTLE — Divorce proceedings for Bill and Melinda Gates officially get underway in King County on Friday, marking the first of many steps in dissolving a 27-year marriage of one of the world's wealthiest couples. Friday's hearing is just a procedural action — the filing of a motion — and will not require any courtroom participation, but it marks the beginning of a monthslong process.

The Gateses announced their separation plans in a shared statement May 3.

"After a great deal of thought at 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 this next phase of our lives."

Here are a few things we know (and don't know):

• What prompted the divorce? Melinda Gates, who is listed as the petitioner on the divorce, has not publicly said what prompted the decision. Last weekend, The Wall Street Journal reported Melinda Gates had met with divorce lawyers as early as 2019, telling them the marriage was "irretrievably broken." The Daily Beast reported some of the turmoil may have arisen from Bill Gates' personal relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
• Who gets what? Exactly how the couple will divide close to $150 billion in estimated assets is among the chief unknowns. The Gateses do not have a prenuptial agreement, but court filings show they intend to adhere to a separation contract to split up their property. Details of that agreement have not been made public, and it's unclear who will end up with ownership of the Gateses' sprawling Lake Washington compound, valued at $131 million. Bill Gates also owns more than 200,000 acres of farmland across the U.S. All of the couple's children are above 18, so the court will not need to consider custody or child support.
• What happens to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation? The Seattle-based philanthropic organization bearing both Gateses' names was launched in 2000 and has an endowment valued close to $50 billion. In a statement following the divorce announcement, the foundation said both would stay on as co-chairs.
• What happens next? According to the case-setting schedule filed May 3, the initial "trial date" is set for April 4, 2022. Family law experts say the vast majority of divorces are settled outside of court before they reach the trial stage, but the proceedings can still take months or years. A handful of hearings and deadlines are coming up over the next few months, including completing a family law orientation by June.