Melinda French Gates is now a billionaire following stock transfer from Bill Gates

According to details, Bill’s largest investment vehicle, Cascade Investment has transferred $1.8 billion in securities to Melinda on the same day the duo announced their separation, Forbes reported.

Following the transfer of amount, Melinda is now worth $1.8 billion, while the exchange of money has put a slight dent in Microsoft cofounder’s net worth, which fell to an estimated $128.6 billion, from $130.4 billion. But even after the share of such a huge transfer, Bill Gates remains the fourth-richest person in the world. The transfer is said to be Bill and Melinda’s divorce settlement.

Cascade Investment is used by Bill to manage his finances including the proceeds from selling Microsoft shares.

On May 04, Co-founder and former CEO of Microsoft Bill Gates and his wife and fellow philanthropist Melinda French Gates Monday announced the decision to end their marriage of 27 years.

Bill Gates and Melinda Gates are one of the world's wealthiest couples with a joint fortune estimated at $130 billion have announced to end their 27-year marriage. However, the two will keep working together on philanthropic efforts including addressed education, gender equality and health care.

In a joint statement on the Microsoft founder's Twitter handle, the couple said they made the decision after a great deal of thought and a lot of work on our relationship.

"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 read.

The statement further added that the duo will continue to share a belief in that mission and will continue their work together at the foundation.

“We no longer believe we can grow together as a couple in this next phase of our lives,” they stated.

Concluding the statement, they pair wrote, “We ask for space and privacy for our family as we begin to navigate this new life."