What is the age gap between Melinda French Gates and her new boyfriend? Everything you need to know

Melinda French Gates has admitted to having a new man in her life, four years after divorce with Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. In an interview with People, Melinda, without naming her current partner, said she was quite happy about her new relationship.
In a detailed interview with the outlet's latest issue, Melinda spoke about her new book, The Next Day, and her most challenging times and life's biggest changes. She also wrote how her divorce took over a year after the couple decided to separate. The philanthropist first had "one of the scariest conversations" during a trip in February 2020, with Bill, who was “sad and upset” but also “understanding and respectful.”

Melinda, 60, is rumoured to be dating tech entrepreneur Philip Vaughn, 48, founder and chairman of Tavour, a craft beer delivery service. Bill Gates, 69, on the other hand has been dating Paula Hurd, 63, the widow of Oracle CEO Mark Hurd.

Bill Gates's ex-wife told People that she's dating again and 'very, very happy'.
“I am, yes,” Melinda said with a big smile on her face.
When asked to name her partner, she said: “I’m just going to leave it there," adding, “I’m quite happy.”
Melinda was snapped holding hands with Vaughn 5 months back in New York City. Vaughn has also worked for Microsoft between 1999 and 2008, for approx. nine years. He started as a senior consultant and climbed the ranks to become group programme manager.
After his nearly decade-long stint in Microsoft, Vaughn worked as a mentor in Techstars, a start-up accelerator company. He founded his craft beer delivery company Tavour in 2013 currently is the brand’s executive chairman.

PEOPLE mentions Vaughn's age as 48, making the age gap between him and Melinda approximately 12 years.
It is not known how and where the couple met for the first time. They were first spotted getting out of a helicopter in New York City while holding hands on October 30 last year. They were photographed by PageSix, when they stepped out for dinner in Manhattan, holding hands.

Melinda in an interview with TIME last year had said she was looking for someone who’s open to learning and who’s vibrant, and who’s smart, and somebody who challenges me and that I challenge.
She was also linked to former Fox News correspondent Jon Du Pre. However, in April 2024, a spokesperson confirmed they were “no longer dating."

For now Melinda spends her evenings at home with a friend or someone that "I care about deeply." She also loves being by herself. Melinda said she may consider marriage again “if it’s the right person and the right time.” “The nice thing I will say at the age I am is there's just no rush,” she says. “The pressure's off."
Melinda started dating Bill Gates four months after she started at Microsoft as a product manager in 1987 after graduating from Duke University's business school. She met Bill at a PC Expo trade show in New York City. The couple got married seven years later in Lanai, Hawaii. They have three children together - Jennifer, 28, son Rory, 25, and daughter Phoebe, 22. Gates, it seems is also happy with his dating life with Paula Heard.