Melinda French Gates reveals she’s ‘very happy’ in new relationship after divorce from tech billionaire Bill Gates

In an interview with People while discussing her new memoir "The Next Day", the 60-year-old philanthropist said she is dating somebody right now.

"I am, yes," she confirmed with a smile that she is currently dating, adding she is "very, very happy." However, Melinda declined to share further details about her new partner. "I’m just going to leave it there," she said, repeating, "I’m quite happy."

Her comments came five months after she was photographed holding hands with tech entrepreneur Philip Vaughn, 48, in New York City. Vaughn is listed on LinkedIn as the founder and chairman of craft beer delivery company Tavour and previously worked at Microsoft between 1999 and 2008. Melinda also worked at Microsoft but left before the birth of her first child in 1996. Following her divorce, she was briefly linked to former Fox News correspondent Jon Du Pre, although in April 2024 a spokesperson confirmed they were "no longer dating."

Bill Gates and ex-wife Melinda French Gates. Photo courtesy of Melinda's Instagram

Melinda shared that she now enjoys evenings at home, whether with a friend, "someone that I care about deeply," or by herself. Looking ahead, she says she remains open to marriage again, but only "if it’s the right person and the right time." "The nice thing I will say at the age I am is there's just no rush. The pressure’s off."

Meanwhile, Bill Gates, 69, is dating Paula Hurd, 63, the widow of former Oracle CEO Mark Hurd.

"I’m lucky to have a serious girlfriend," Bill said during a Feb. 4 appearance on the TV show Today. "We’re having fun, going to the Olympics and lots of great things."

Bill and Melinda finalized their divorce in August 2021 after 27 years of marriage. They share three children: Jennifer Gates Nassar, 28, Rory Gates, 25, and Phoebe Gates, 22. In January, Bill described the divorce as "the mistake I most regret," telling The Times it had been "miserable" for him and Melinda for at least two years. "You would have to put that at the top of the list. There are others but none that matter," he said.

He later revised his stance, telling Today in February, "Despite the fact that the divorce wasn’t great, having those three kids, the work we were able to do together – even if I knew that it wouldn’t last forever, I would still do it again."

The tech titan recently revealed that each of his three children will inherit less than 1% of his fortune, currently valued at over US$100 billion. According to Forbes, Gates’ net worth stood at $107.5 billion as of April 14. Even 1% of that sum would amount to more than $1 billion for each of his children.