Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has publicly acknowledged his relationship with girlfriend Paula Hurd for the first time.
During an interview on the Today show, the 69-year-old billionaire shared his happiness, saying, “I’m lucky to have a serious girlfriend named Paula. We’re having fun, going to the Olympics, and enjoying lots of great experiences.”
Paula Hurd, a philanthropist and business developer, was married to former Oracle CEO Mark Hurd until his passing in 2019. Gates and Hurd were first seen together in 2022, and they made their relationship official in early 2023. Since then, the couple has been spotted at high-profile events, including the Paris Olympics, the Breakthrough Prize Ceremony, and Anant Ambani’s wedding.
In an earlier interview with The Times of London, Gates reflected on his divorce from Melinda French Gates after 27 years of marriage, describing it as the greatest regret of his life. While he expressed contentment with his current life, he admitted that the divorce was an emotionally challenging time for both him and Melinda, lasting at least two years.
Gates also took responsibility for mistakes made during his marriage, including an affair with a Microsoft employee. “I certainly made mistakes, and I take responsibility,” he admitted, though he chose not to go into specific details, acknowledging the pain caused.
Another point of tension in the marriage was Gates’ past association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Melinda publicly condemned her ex-husband’s meetings with Epstein, stating, “I did not like that he had meetings with Jeffrey Epstein. He was abhorrent—evil personified.”
Gates has since acknowledged that his involvement with Epstein was a “mistake.”
