Melinda French Gates Opens Up: A Friendly Ex-Relationship and Life After Divorce
Let’s dissect the latest chapter in the melodrama of celebrity divorces, shall we? Melinda French Gates, the former Mrs. Gates herself, is giving us the lowdown on her post-marital life and how she maintains a surprisingly cordial relationship with the tech titan, Bill Gates. In a candid interview with PEOPLE, Melinda, 60, reveals that despite their 27-year union ending in 2021, she and Bill manage to keep it friendly—an admirable feat in the world of high-profile splits. With three children—Jennifer, Rory, and Phoebe—and two grandkids in the mix, Melinda makes it clear that family comes first. “Naturally,” she states, they cross paths at family events like graduations, and each encounter is, as she puts it, “friendly.”
But don’t get too cozy; both have moved on romantically. Bill Gates has been linked with Paula Hurd, a widow of a former Oracle CEO, and they seem to be inseparable at glitzy events. Bill has also made headlines for referring to his marriage’s collapse as “the mistake I most regret,” a comment that echoes his reflections on their life together and the work they accomplished through the Gates Foundation, which Melinda co-founded. Oh, the irony!
Meanwhile, Melinda isn’t wallowing in nostalgia. In fact, she’s buzzing with happiness in her new relationship with entrepreneur Philip Vaughn, although she’s keeping the details under wraps. It seems both parties are thriving post-divorce, with Bill busy promoting his memoir, where he shares reflections on their marriage and the joys of parenthood. “I’ve moved past the divorce,” he asserts, while Melinda is focused on her philanthropic endeavors and her upcoming book, *The Next Day*, which promises insights into her transformative experiences, including her split from Bill.
She’s transparent about the challenges of her decision to leave one of the richest men on the planet, hoping her story resonates with others in similar situations. “It was important for me to be real,” she notes, and who can argue with that? It’s a tale of resilience that many can learn from.
So, as we watch these two navigate their new lives with all the grace of seasoned professionals, one can’t help but ponder: if only all breakups were so amicable, perhaps the world would be a more harmonious place.
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Sources: Celebrity Storm and ** People Magazine, The Scottish Sun
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
