Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has publicly discussed his relationship with his girlfriend, Paula Hurd, for the first time.
In an interview on the Today show, Gates, 69, expressed his happiness, saying, “I’m lucky to have a serious girlfriend named Paula. We’re having fun, going to the Olympics, and lots of great things. ”
Paula Hurd, a philanthropist and developer, was previously married to former Oracle CEO Mark Hurd, who passed away in 2019. Bill Gates and Paula Hurd were first seen together in 2022 and made their relationship official in early 2023.
The couple has since appeared at various events, including the Paris Olympics, the Breakthrough Prize Ceremony, and Anant Ambani’s wedding.
In a recent interview with the Times of London, Bill Gates spoke about his divorce from Melinda French Gates, which he described as the biggest regret of his life after 27 years of marriage.
While Gates shared that he finds greater happiness in his current life, he candidly admitted that the divorce was an incredibly difficult period for both him and Melinda, lasting at least two years. Reflecting on the divorce, Gates acknowledged his own mistakes and expressed regret for the pain he caused Melinda during their marriage.
He specifically mentioned an incident involving an affair with a Microsoft employee, stating, “I certainly made mistakes, and I take responsibility.”
Bill Gates emphasized that discussing the specifics of his divorce was not constructive, but he did acknowledge the harm he caused. Another significant factor in their separation was Gates’ past association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Although Gates has since expressed regret over that relationship, it played a role in the challenges during his marriage to Melinda.
Melinda publicly expressed her strong disapproval of these interactions, stating, “I did not like that he had meetings with Jeffrey Epstein, no. He was abhorrent. He was evil personified.”
Bill Gates has since acknowledged his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein as a “mistake”.
