Jennifer Gates, the eldest daughter of Bill and Melinda Gates, has spoken out after her billionaire parents announced on Monday, May 4, they had decided to divorce after 27 years of marriage.
The pair announced the decision to divorce in a joint statement they released on Twitter, revealing they had been battling to save the relationship for some time.
On Monday, Jennifer shared a statement on her Instagram Story, asking her followers for privacy as the family navigates this “challenging” time.
“By now many of you have heard the news that my parents are separating,” she began the post. “It’s been a challenging stretch of time for our whole family.”
She continued, “I’m still learning how to best support my own process and emotions as well as family members at this time, and am grateful for the space to do so. I won’t personally comment further on anything around the separation, but please know that your kind words and support mean the world to me.”
“Thank you for understanding our desire for privacy while we navigate the next phases of our lives,” she concluded.
Bill Gates is the fourth richest person in the world, and is estimated to be worth $US130.5 billion ($A168 billion), according to Forbes.
Jennifer, 25, is the oldest of the estranged couple’s three children, who include her brother Rory, 21, and sister Phoebe, 18.
In January 2020, she got engaged to Nayel Nassar, who is a professional Egyptian equestrian rider and also a Stanford graduate
Back In 2017 on a Reddit Ask Me Anything segment, Microsoft co-founder, Bill Gates said his children will inherit just $10 million each – equivalent to less than 1 per cent of his fortune.
“I definitely think leaving kids massive amounts of money is not a favour to them. Warren Buffett was part of an article in Fortune talking about this in 1986 before I met him and it made me think about it and decide he was right,” he said.