I’m happy we are having fun —Former world richest man Bill Gates confirms new girlfriend after dumping & divorcing Melinda

Just a few weeks after reflecting on his regrets surrounding the end of his 27-year marriage to Melinda French Gates, the Microsoft co-founder shared rare insight into his dating life—and even gave his new love Paula Hurd a shout out.

“That’s right, I’m lucky to have a serious girlfriend,” Bill said during an interview with Today on Feb. 4. “Her name’s Paula.”

The Source Code author, who first sparked romance rumors with Paula in 2023, also detailed the quality time they spend together.

“So we’re having fun,” Bill, 69, continued. “Going to the Olympics and lots of great things.”

Bill was previously married to Melinda from 1994-2021. During their decades-long relationship, the Microsoft co-founder and the philanthropist welcomed children Jennifer Gates Nassar, 28, Rory Gates, 25, and Phoebe Gates, 22.

Two years after finalizing his divorce from Melinda, whom he wed in 1994, Bill and Paula attended the Australian Open together. Since then, Bill and Paula—who is the widow of Oracle CEO Mark Hurd—have attended more sporting events including the 2024 Olympic games.

And while he is looking ahead, and happy with his new love, Bill admitted he wouldn’t change a thing about his time with his ex.

“It’s even hard for me to complain about things,” he said on Today. “I moved past the divorce, Melinda’s doing well. I got a lot of work that I love to do. Despite the fact that the divorce wasn’t great, having those three kids and the work we were able to do, even if I knew it wouldn’t last forever, I would still do it again.”

However, Bill recently got candid about why his divorce is one of his biggest regrets in life.

“That was the mistake I most regret,” he told the U.K. newspapers The Times in an interview published Jan. 25, later adding, “You would have to put that at the top of the list. There are others but none that matters. The divorce thing was miserable for me and Melinda for at least two years.”

“There is a certain wonderfulness to spending your entire adult life with one person because of the memories and depth of things you have done and having kids together,” he continued. “When Melinda and I met, I was fairly successful but not ridiculously successful—that came during the time that we were together. So, she saw me through a lot.”