Melinda French Gates, the 60-year-old philanthropist and ex-wife of Microsoft founder Bill Gates, has confirmed that she is in a “pretty great” relationship with entrepreneur Philip Vaughn.
The pair, who first sparked romance rumors last year after being photographed holding hands, were recently spotted together in New York City.
They attended a Broadway show produced by George Clooney, radiating joy and happiness, which only further fueled speculation about their relationship.
The sighting occurred just a day before Melinda appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert to promote her new book, The Next Day, which was released on April 15. During her appearance, Melinda briefly touched on her love life, saying,
“I’m in a pretty great relationship” while keeping details about her partner’s identity private.
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However, her comments left no doubt that she is in a happy and fulfilling relationship.
This comes after her divorce from Bill Gates in 2021, which ended their 27-year marriage. In the time following her separation, Melinda was briefly linked to Jon Du Pre, but their relationship ended in 2024.
Meanwhile, her ex-husband Bill is dating Paula Hurd, the widow of Oracle CEO Mark Hurd.
In addition to her personal life, Melinda’s latest book includes a mysterious shout-out to someone she references as “You know who you are,” which many believe to be a subtle nod to Philip Vaughn.
The book discusses her post-divorce journey, reflecting on the challenges of rebuilding her life and career, as well as offering insight into her personal growth.
Philip Vaughn, the 48-year-old businessman, is the founder and chairman of Tavour, a craft beer delivery service. He also worked at Microsoft from 1999 to 2008, where he may have crossed paths with Melinda, who also worked at the tech giant.
While their relationship remains relatively private, their growing bond has been evident through their public appearances and Melinda’s open acknowledgment of her happiness.
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Melinda and Bill share three children: Jennifer (28), Phoebe (22), and Rory (25). Although they divorced, the couple maintains a cordial relationship, co-parenting their children and occasionally appearing together at family events.
While Melinda French Gates continues to focus on her philanthropic work, her newfound happiness with Vaughn is making headlines and offering a refreshing chapter in her post-divorce life.
