If you saw Bill Gates and Paula Hurd sitting together at the Australian Open back in 2023, you might have just thought they were two rich people who really liked tennis. You’d be right, mostly. But there was a lot more to it. People were obsessed with finding out who the "mystery woman" in the front row was.
Honestly, the world was still reeling from Bill's divorce from Melinda French Gates. That 2021 split was massive. It wasn't just a marriage ending; it was the dismantling of a global philanthropic empire. So when Paula Hurd entered the frame, the internet went into detective mode.
Bill Gates and Paula Hurd: Why the Pair Makes Sense
They aren't exactly a random match. Paula Hurd is the widow of Mark Hurd, the former CEO of Oracle and HP who passed away in 2019. If you know anything about the tech world in the early 2000s, you know Mark was a titan. Paula wasn't just a "plus-one" during those years. She has a background in tech herself, having spent nearly two decades at NCR Corporation, eventually rising to Vice President of Services.
She speaks the language of Silicon Valley. She understands the pressure of being in the public eye.
In February 2025, Bill finally stopped playing coy. During an appearance on the Today show, he told Savannah Guthrie, "I'm lucky to have a serious girlfriend named Paula." He looked happy. Like, genuinely relaxed. He mentioned they were having fun and going to the Olympics. This was a big shift from the "miserable" period he described immediately following his divorce.
That "Engagement" Ring Rumor
Remember when everyone thought they were engaged? In July 2023, Paula was spotted wearing a ring on that finger while they were out in New York. The tabloids went wild.
"Is Bill Gates getting married again?" the headlines screamed.
A spokesperson had to jump in pretty quickly to shut it down. Turns out, Paula had owned that ring for decades. It wasn't a proposal. It was just jewelry. It’s funny how a single piece of gold can spark a global news cycle, but that's what happens when you're one of the wealthiest men on the planet.
A Shared Life of Philanthropy and Sport
Their relationship isn't just about fancy dinners and red carpets, though they do plenty of that. They were seen at Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s engagement party on a $500 million yacht in Italy. They also attended the lavish pre-wedding bash for Anant Ambani in India.
But the real connection seems to be tennis and giving back.
Paula is a massive supporter of Baylor University, her late husband’s alma mater. She helped them hit their $1 billion "Give Light" campaign goal with a $7 million donation. There’s even a Mark and Paula Hurd Welcome Center on campus now. Bill, of course, has the Gates Foundation.
They seem to have found a middle ground where they can enjoy the fruits of their success while staying busy. They’ve been "inseparable" for a while now, according to those close to them.
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The Transition Period
It wasn't always smooth sailing. Bill has been very open about his regrets regarding his marriage to Melinda. In 2025, he admitted to The Times that the divorce was a low point. He took responsibility for mistakes, including an affair with a Microsoft employee years ago.
Transitioning into a new, serious relationship after 27 years of marriage is hard for anyone. Doing it while the world watches your every move? That's a different level of stress.
But by early 2026, things seem settled. Bill has made his final $8 billion payout to Melinda as part of their settlement. The "Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation" is now simply the "Gates Foundation." The ties are being cut, and new ones are being formed.
What This Means for the Future
So, what’s next for Bill Gates and Paula Hurd?
They aren't rushing to the altar. There's no sign of a wedding planning committee just yet. Instead, they seem focused on a "blended" sort of existence. Paula has two daughters, Kathryn and Kelly. Bill has his three kids. While sources say Paula hadn't met Bill's kids early on, they were all spotted together at the 2024 Paris Olympics, watching gymnastics with Bill’s daughter Jennifer and her husband.
It feels like a mature, late-stage-of-life romance.
- Stay Updated: Keep an eye on the Gates Foundation’s annual letters. While Paula isn't officially part of the foundation, her influence on Bill’s "cheerful" disposition (his words) is likely to reflect in his work.
- Watch the Stands: If there’s a major tennis tournament—the French Open, Wimbledon, Indian Wells—you’ll probably see them there.
- Philanthropic Shifts: Look for potential collaborations between Paula’s interests in education/healthcare and Bill’s global initiatives.
The story of Bill Gates and Paula Hurd is a reminder that even after a massive, public ending, there’s usually a next chapter. It just might involve a lot more tennis than the first one.
To truly understand the impact of this pairing, look at how the Gates Foundation's focus has shifted slightly toward more solo ventures by Bill since 2024. You can track their public appearances through major sporting event registries to see where they might pop up next.