The cookie is crumbled: Bill and Melinda Gates are getting divorced

That’s it. The hope for true love is over. If even the love story of Bill and Melinda ends, I find love to be a cruel thing. The multimillionaire and his wife announced last night via social media that they are separating.

‘In the past 27 years, we have raised three wonderful children and established a foundation that is active around the world,’ states the joint statement. ‘We ask for privacy and space for our family as we begin a new chapter in our lives.’

Just a little trip down memory lane: Bill and Melinda met in 1987 in New York. She shortly thereafter started working in the marketing department of Microsoft. The two married in 1994 in Hawaii. Two years later, Melinda left the tech company to focus on her family.

The down-to-earth nature despite the big money. How lovingly they spoke about each other in interviews, the biggest things they have accomplished together: Bill and Melinda seemed like buddies. And maybe being buddies is just not enough when you have nothing left to grow together. One thing they agree on: the two will continue to work together in the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the charity they founded together in 2000. And that collaboration can only happen if there is also a lot of love.

The only question that remains is of course: how will this bizarre fortune be divided? Will it be one of the most expensive divorces ever? Will the amount of alimony be determined based on income and if so, will this be the craziest alimony ever? Will they follow in the footsteps of Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and his wife MacKenzie? (Bill is just a spot below Jeff, who is now officially the richest man on earth. If he were to fairly split his wealth with his wife, MacKenzie could walk away with 69 billion, making her the richest woman on earth.)

I couldn't help it and had to look it up. The Great Fortune. Bill Gates currently owns about 130. Billion. Dollars. To put that in perspective…

• Bill is so rich that spending 1 million is equivalent to 1 dollar for an average American.
• Every second he earns no less than 340 euros.
• Even if he spent 1 million dollars every day, it would take him 285 years to spend his fortune.
• Today, Bill Gates owns only 1.3 percent of Microsoft.
• Bill's wealth is as large as the annual gross domestic product of Croatia, Cambodia, and the Bahamas COMBINED.
• If Bill Gates were to give everyone on earth 10 euros, he would still have about 28 billion euros left. Wow.

Anyway: another dream couple bites the dust. Although I have the feeling that Melinda and Bill will work it out together. As buddies. Because the power of true love lies not in holding on, but in letting go.