New Delhi: Since his divorce from Melinda French Gates, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has been open about beginning a new chapter in his personal life. His relationship with Paula Hurd, the widow of former Oracle CEO Mark Hurd, has become the most publicly confirmed romance associated with the billionaire since his 2021 divorce.
Gates and Hurd were first linked publicly in 2023 after being photographed together at several events. The relationship attracted attention because both were high-profile figures in the technology and business world.
For some time, however, Gates remained relatively private about the relationship.
That changed in February 2025, when Gates spoke publicly about Hurd during an appearance on the Today show. He described her as his “serious girlfriend” and said they were having fun together. He also mentioned travelling and attending events together.
The relationship came several years after Gates and Melinda French Gates announced their divorce. The former couple had been married for 27 years and share three children.
Their divorce was finalised in 2021 and ended one of the most closely watched marriages in the global technology and philanthropy world. Even after the separation, Gates and Melinda continued to share some philanthropic interests, although Melinda later stepped away from the Gates Foundation and developed her own organisation.
Hurd, meanwhile, has her own connection to Silicon Valley. She was married to Mark Hurd, who served as CEO of Hewlett-Packard and later co-CEO of Oracle. He died in 2019.
Before her relationship with Gates became public, Hurd was known for her work in technology and business circles and for her involvement in sports and philanthropy.
Gates’ openness about Hurd has marked a change from the relatively private way he handled his personal life during his marriage.
However, there is limited reliable information about their day-to-day relationship. Most of the public information comes from occasional appearances, photographs and Gates’ own comments rather than regular updates from the couple.
That distinction is important because celebrity and billionaire relationships often attract large amounts of online speculation. Not every photograph or social-media claim represents a confirmed relationship development.
Gates’ personal life has also received increased attention because of disclosures about his past relationships. In 2026, he gave testimony to a US congressional committee and discussed affairs during his marriage to Melinda. He named three women and said those relationships were unrelated to Jeffrey Epstein, whose association with Gates has also faced renewed scrutiny. Gates has said he regrets meeting Epstein and has denied criminal wrongdoing.
Those disclosures have brought additional attention to the billionaire’s private life, but they are separate from his current relationship with Hurd.
