Melinda Gates might become world's second-richest woman: report

Melinda Gates could become the world's second-richest woman with a fortune estimated at $73 billion U.S. dollars, reports The Guardian.

Bill and Melinda Gates smile at each other during an interview in Kirkland, Washington, Feb. 1, 2019. [File Photo: AP/Elaine Thompson]

In her divorce petition, Melinda Gates stated that her marriage to multibillionaire Bill Gates was "irretrievably broken," and called on the courts to divide up the couple's combined $146 billion fortune.

The Guardian says the 50-50 split is likely, because their divorce petition filing reveals that the couple did not sign a prenuptial agreement, and divorcing couples are expected to share their assets equally under Washington state law.

If that goes ahead, Melinda Gates is expected to rank behind only Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, the owner of L'Oreal, whose inherited fortune is worth about $83 billion.