Melinda French Gates Talks Post-Divorce Life, Family, and Finding Happiness Again
Melinda French Gates is embracing a new chapter in life, balancing philanthropy, family, and personal happiness after her high-profile divorce from Bill Gates. In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, she opened up about her evolving relationship with her ex-husband and the journey of moving forward.
The former couple, who were married for 27 years before divorcing in 2021, share three children—Jennifer, 28, Rory, 25, and Phoebe, 22—along with two grandchildren. With major family milestones still bringing them together, Melinda acknowledges that she and Bill cross paths from time to time.
“Naturally, Bill and I see each other every now and then at family events, such as graduations,” she shared. “When we do, it’s friendly.”
Since their split, both Melinda and Bill have moved on in their personal lives. Bill has been dating Paula Hurd, the widow of former Oracle CEO Mark Hurd, while Melinda has also found love again. She chose not to name her partner but was recently spotted with tech entrepreneur Philip Vaughn, 48, in New York City.
Melinda’s upcoming book, The Next Day (releasing April 15), reflects on her personal growth, including the challenges of divorce, motherhood, and her philanthropic mission to empower women and girls globally. She hopes that by sharing her experiences, she can inspire others navigating similar life changes.
“It was important for me to be real,” she said. “Hopefully, it’s helpful to someone else.”
