An interpreter for Bill and Melinda Gates' foundation has reportedly denied the "groundless" rumours she was the reason for their divorce.
Microsoft founder and philanthropist Bill announced on Tuesday he and his wife Melinda had decided to end their marriage after 27 years and three children together.
"We continue to share a belief in that mission and will continue to work together at the foundation, but we no longer believe we can grow together as a couple in this next phase of our lives."
Documents obtained by Daily Mail show Melinda was the one to file for divorce and claimed the marriage was "irretrievably broken".
The news sparked rumours of the reason for their split, including one that Zhe 'Shelly' Wang, a translator for Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, had more than a professional relationship with Bill or Melinda.
But in a post to Chinese social media platform Weibo on Friday, Wang denied the speculation according to the Daily Mail.
"I originally thought [the rumour] would be self-defeating from groundless sources, but I didn't expect it to get more crazy,' she wrote in Mandarin.
"Thank you for your concern over the past 24 hours through private messages, and friends who helped me dispel rumours."
Wang's friend Li Donglei also denied the rumours in a blog post.
"I think it is entirely my instinct that Wang Zhe can't do this kind of thing," Donglei wrote.
"Over the years, Wang Zhe has been doing interpretation work for the Gates Foundation for different projects, but she is not a full-time translator for Gates. I guess some people made up gossip about 'Gates cheating on a Chinese beauty' just because they saw Wang Zhe's translation work photos at the Gates Foundation and saw that she was a Chinese beauty and a single woman.
"They don't care about the slander of an innocent girl and her family by such rumours."
Since the news of Bill and Melinda's breakup, it's been revealed the couple didn't sign a prenuptial agreement however they do have a separation agreement.
The pair own a private jet and several properties along with Bill's fortune which is estimated to be worth over US$130 billion - so the world will be watching how the divorce unfolds.
