Billionaire and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, 69, has spoken about his relationship with Paula Hurd, describing her as his “serious girlfriend” while sharing that they are “having fun” together. In a recent interview on TODAY, Gates offered a rare glimpse into his personal life since his divorce from Melinda French Gates in 2021.
“I’m lucky to have a serious girlfriend named Paula,” Gates said. “So we’re having fun, going to the Olympics and lots of great things.”
The couple has been seen at multiple public events since 2022 but only confirmed their relationship the following year. Since then, they have made several public appearances, including attending the 2024 Olympics. Paula Hurd, widow of former Oracle CEO Mark Hurd, has been actively involved in philanthropy, particularly in education and healthcare.
She was married to Mark Hurd until his passing in 2019, and together, they had two daughters. Over the years, Paula has supported fundraising initiatives for nonprofit organizations. She also received recognition in Gates’ latest memoir, Source Code, released recently. In the book’s acknowledgments, Gates credited her as an early reader of his manuscript.
The memoir explores Gates’ formative years, covering his childhood and early career until the late 1970s, a few years after he co-founded Microsoft with Paul Allen in 1975. Speaking about the book, Gates reflected on how revisiting his past was a unique experience.
“This year, I turn 70, Microsoft turns 50, and so I thought, OK, I should share what luck I had to have amazing parents, you know, the way they let me go out and hike and try new things,” he said. “I was just unbelievably lucky, and, you know, that’s why Microsoft ended up being so successful.”
Following his divorce in August 2021, Bill Gates began dating Paula Hurd. In January 2025, he told The Times of London that he is “more cheerful” at 69 than ever before. The couple’s relationship was confirmed in February 2023, though they had been seen together at events months prior, including the Laver Cup in September 2022 and the Australian Open in January 2023.
Hurd and Gates eventually made their red carpet debut in April 2024 at the Breakthrough Prize Ceremony.
Paula Hurd was married to Mark Hurd, the former CEO of Oracle and Hewlett-Packard, for nearly 30 years before his passing in October 2019. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1984 with a degree in business administration and later worked in sales and alliance management at NCR, a leading software and hardware company.
Currently, Paula works as a developer and organizer of major events for corporate, charitable, and personal occasions. She has also played a significant role in philanthropy. She and her late husband contributed to various causes, leading fundraising campaigns over the years.
One of her notable contributions was a $7 million donation to Baylor University, her late husband’s alma mater. The donation helped the university’s Give Light Campaign reach the $1 billion mark, and in September 2023, the school named a welcome center after the couple.
Expressing her excitement, Paula Hurd said in a press release, “Our family is absolutely thrilled with the Hurd Welcome Center. When we made this gift, Mark had a vision for how a welcome experience could transform this corner of campus, and the outcome has by far exceeded our expectations and dreams. I know he would be proud.”
Since confirming their relationship, Gates and Hurd have attended several high-profile events together. In August 2023, they were spotted at Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s engagement party, an intimate gathering aboard Bezos’ $500 million yacht off the Italian coast.
In March 2024, they attended a pre-wedding celebration for Anant Ambani, the son of Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani. The three-day extravaganza featured a performance by Rihanna.
Gates and Hurd made their red carpet debut in April 2024 at the 10th annual Breakthrough Prize Ceremony in Los Angeles. Paula looked stunning in a black gown adorned with feathers, while Gates opted for a classic black tuxedo.
Most recently, the couple attended the 2024 Paris Olympics, where they were seen with Gates’ daughter, Jennifer Gates, and her husband, Nayel Nassar. The group was spotted watching the U.S. women’s gymnastics team compete for gold.
Although Gates and Hurd have been seen together at multiple events, they are not engaged. Engagement rumors first surfaced in mid-2023 when Hurd was photographed wearing a ring on her left hand while out with Gates in New York City. However, a spokesperson for the Microsoft co-founder dismissed the speculation.
“Our office can confirm that the ring Mrs. Hurd was seen wearing has belonged to her for decades,” the representative stated.
While Bill Gates has always been private about his personal life, his latest remarks offer insight into his happiness with Paula Hurd. With their frequent public appearances and shared philanthropic interests, their relationship continues to be in the spotlight.
