Melinda Gates to keep her last name post divorce with Bill Gates

Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates have finalized their divorce.

According to PEOPLE, on Monday, a King County judge approved the couple's divorce proceedings, establishing the fact that Melinda will not be changing her name.

The former husband and wife announced their separation in May, almost 27 years after marriage.

"After a great deal of thought and a lot of work on our relationship, we have made the decision to end our marriage. 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," they wrote in a joint statement on social media, referring to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which they founded in 2000 and is now worth over $40 billion.

"We continue to share a belief in that mission and will continue our work together at the foundation, but we no longer believe we can grow together as a couple in this next phase of our lives. We ask for space and privacy for our family as we begin to navigate this new life," they concluded in the statement.