Billionaire Bill Gates has confirmed the existence of his “serious” girlfriend just days after saying that his divorce from wife Melinda was his biggest regret. In an interview on the Today show Tuesday, the Microsoft founder opened up about life with girlfriend Paula Hurd. “I’m lucky to have a serious girlfriend named Paula,” he said. “We’re having fun, going to the Olympics and lots of great things.” In an January article with the Times of London, 69-year-old Gates said his divorce was “the mistake I regret the most.” Hurd, a philanthropist, was former Oracle CEO Mark Hurd’s wife for almost 30 years until his death in 2019. Bill and Melinda Gates split in 2021 after a 27-year marriage. “I moved past the divorce,” he said. “And Melinda’s doing well.” Hurd and Gates were first linked in 2022 when they were seen attending events together. Melinda Gates has seemingly moved on, too: Just last year, she debuted her romance with businessman Philip Vaughn. “The divorce wasn’t great. Having those three kids, the work we were able to do together,” the billionaire said on Today, “Even if I knew that it wouldn’t last forever, I would still do it again.”
