News of their relationship came roughly two years after Gates and his ex-wife, Melinda French Gates, announced their divorce

Meet Bill Gates’ girlfriend, Paula Hurd.

Following his divorce from Melinda French Gates in August 2021, the Microsoft co-founder began dating Hurd.

The couple’s relationship was confirmed in February 2023, however, Gates and Hurd had been spotted together at several sporting events months prior, including the Laver Cup in September 2022 and the Australian Open in January 2023.

Before their relationship went public, Gates told the BBC that he planned to find love again after his divorce. “Sure, I’m not a robot,” he said.

Hurd and Gates eventually made their red carpet debut in April 2024 at the Breakthrough Prize Ceremony.

Read ahead for everything to know about Gates’ girlfriend.

She’s the widow of former Oracle CEO Mark Hurd

Hurd was married to Mark Hurd, the CEO of software company Oracle and the onetime boss of Hewlett-Packard, for nearly 30 years, until his death in October 2019.

She studied business in college

She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1984, per her bio on Baylor University’s website.

She used to work in the tech industry

After college, Hurd embarked on a decades-long career in sales and alliance management at the software company NCR (National Cash Register). The corporation is a top enterprise provider of software, hardware and services for banks and retailers.

Now, Paula works as a developer and organizer of a wide range of “memorable” event experiences for personal, corporate and charitable occasions, according to her LinkedIn bio.

She’s a philanthropist

Hurd and her late husband contributed to various causes and led numerous fundraising campaigns over the years. As a longtime donor to her late husband’s alma mater, Baylor University, she helped the school’s Give Light Campaign reach its $1 billion mark with a generous $7 million donation in 2021. The school opened a welcome center named for the couple in September 2023.

“Our family is absolutely thrilled with the Hurd Welcome Center,” Hurd said in a Baylor University press release. “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.”

The fundraising campaign was described on Baylor’s website as one seeking “to further activities that provide an ‘unambiguously Christian education environment;’ create transformational undergraduate education experiences; boost the impact and visibility of Baylor’s research and scholarship; and foster nationally recognized arts and athletics programs, according to Baylor’s foundational pillars.”

She has two daughters

Hurd is a mom to two children, daughters Kathryn and Kelly, whom she shares with her late husband.

News of her relationship with Gates was confirmed in February 2023

SplashNews.com

Although the couple had been seen alongside each other in public since September 2022 (and at the same sporting event in October 2021), it wasn’t until February 2023 that a source close to the couple confirmed the status of their relationship.

At the time, the insider said the pair’s relationship was “widely known.” Five months later, engagement rumors surfaced after Hurd was photographed wearing a piece of jewelry on her ring finger while out with Gates in New York City.

However, a spokesperson for the Microsoft co-founder tells PEOPLE that the ring has belonged to Hurd for quite some time and does not symbolize an engagement.

“Our office can confirm that the ring Mrs. Hurd was seen wearing has belonged to her for decades,” the spokesperson said. (Hurd has previously been seen wearing a ring with Gates.)

She and Gates attended Jeff Bezos’ engagement party

In August 2023, Gates and Hurd attended Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s engagement party. The intimate soiree took place on the Amazon founder’s $500 million yacht, which was anchored off the coast of Italy.

She and Gates attended a pre-wedding celebration for Anant Ambani

Hurd and Gates attended a pre-wedding celebration in early March 2024 for Anant Ambani, the son of Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani. The lavish, three-day event kicked off with a performance by Rihanna.

She and Gates made their red carpet debut in April 2024

Steve Granitz/FilmMagic

The couple walked the red carpet together for the first time at the 10th annual Breakthrough Prize Ceremony in Los Angeles. Hurd dazzled in a black gown adorned with feathers, while Gates looked handsome in a classic black tuxedo.

She and Gates attended the 2024 Paris Olympics

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty

Gates and Hurd attended the 2024 Paris Olympics with the tech entrepreneur’s daughter Jennifer Gates and her husband, Nayel Nassar. The group was among the many spectators watching the U.S. women’s gymnastics team vie for gold.