Bill Gates tells love story

"I'm lucky to have a serious girlfriend, Paula," Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates told Savannah Guthrie on the Today show on February 4.

"We're having fun. We watched the Paris Olympics and a lot of great things," he added, marking the first time he has spoken openly about his relationship.

Bill Gates (69 years old) and Paula Hurd (60 years old) were photographed together at several events in 2022. However, their love story did not come to the attention until early 2023.

"They were inseparable," a friend of the couple told the Daily Mail in February 2023. "They had been together for over a year and she was always described as a 'mystery woman'. But those close to them had no idea they were in a romantic relationship," the friend continued.

The two met before Mark Hurd (Paula Hurd's husband) passed away in October 2019, due to their shared love of tennis. Previously, Bill Gates and Paula Hurd were photographed sitting next to each other at a tennis match in 2015.

They made their first red carpet appearance as a couple in April 2024 when they attended the Breakthrough Awards at the Academy Museum of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Los Angeles.

Bill Gates was married to his ex-wife Melinda Gates for 27 years. He admitted in an interview with the Times of London last month that the breakup of their marriage was the "mistake" he "most regrets".

When the comments came up during a conversation with Gutherie, the tech mogul explained: "My business, although it's had its ups and downs, has been incredible. My kids have been incredible." He added: "I've gotten through the divorce and Melinda is doing well. I have a lot of work that I love. So I'm not really complaining about anything."

"Even though the divorce wasn't very good, when we had three children, we were still able to work together, even though I knew it wouldn't last forever, I would still do it again," he shared.

Bill Gates and Melinda have three children: daughter Jennifer Gates (28), son Rory Gates (25), and daughter Phoebe Gates (22). The couple announced their divorce in May 2021. Melinda later revealed that they had separated about a year ago. Their separation was finalized in August 2021, and Melinda has since moved on with businessman Philip Vaughn.