Following her highly publicized divorce, Bill Gates' ex-wife is back in the spotlight, not just as a philanthropist and women's empowerment advocate, but as the second richest woman in the world with a fortune estimated at about $73 billion. Documents filed by Melinda in King County Superior Court in Seattle, Washington, on Monday, revealed her request to divide the total wealth of $146 billion with her ex-husband Bill Gates equally, according to The Guardian. If this is granted, Melinda, under Washington state laws, in the absence of a prior agreement between the spouses, would rank second behind Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, the 67-year-old owner of L'Oréal, whose inherited fortune is now approximately $83 billion.
The couple's immense personal wealth includes their main residence, a 66,000-square-foot mansion overlooking Lake Washington valued at $130 million, and a series of vacation homes, such as an oceanfront property near San Diego worth $43 million and a $59 million farm in Florida. In addition to real estate, the couple owns several private jets and a fleet of cars, including a rare $2 million Porsche 959 and a Porsche Taycan electric car. Their main home features garages that can accommodate up to 23 cars.
