Bill Gates’ billionaire ex wife Melinda flashes a HUGE new diamond ring on engagement finger after private helicopter ride… as she finds happiness following split from the Microsoft founder
Melinda French Gates has been spotted with a huge new diamond ring on her engagement finger after stepping out of a private helicopter at a New York City helipad.
Melinda was all smiles as she was greeted by an assistant who helped with her luggage.
She was seen carrying a large pink Chanel shopping bag that costs around $6,600.
She also wore a light beige mesh coat to match the spring weather. Underneath, she was seen wearing a white blouse, black pants and Loewe sneakers that retail for $600.
But it was the huge rock on her ring finger that was front and center as she stepped away from the helicopter.
Melinda French Gates was seen wearing a large diamond ring on her engagement finger after arriving in New York City by private helicopter
Melinda was seen with a huge diamond on her ring finger as she stepped out of the helicopter
Melinda just smiled as she walked away from the private helicopter. She and ex-husband Bill Gates have continued to work on their charitable foundation since their divorce in 2021
There has been no public announcement that Melinda is getting engaged, but since their high-stakes split in 2021, both she and ex-husband Bill are reportedly dating new partners.
After the couple broke up, Melinda spoke in detail about what led to the breakup of her marriage, saying that there wasn’t one specific thing that led to their breakup, but rather it was a lot of things that happened over the course of of time added together.
She revealed that she slowly realized that she “wasn’t healthy” in the relationship, and that she could no longer “trust what she and Bill had.”
Melinda French Gates has a current net worth of approximately $13 billion; According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Bill Gates has a fortune worth more than $148 billion.
Earlier this year, the couple split personal services such as private jets, security and other functions that were previously shared by both under an entity called Watermark.
A close-up of Melinda’s ring finger gives an idea of the size of the diamond
She appeared cheerful as an assistant helped with her luggage, carrying an expensive Chanel shopping bag and wearing a spring outfit
An assistant could be seen carrying a navy blue bag, while Melinda carried her own pink bag
Melinda carried a pink Chanel bag and wore a mesh jacket, white blouse, black pants and Loewe sneakers
Bill has been spotted several times with Paula Hurd, 60, the former wife of Oracle co-CEO Mark Hurd, who passed away in October 2019.
Melinda, who called her divorce from the software billionaire “incredibly painful,” has reportedly been dating former Fox reporter Jon Du Pre, 64, since 2022.
Du Pre, who has worked across the country as a news anchor in various cities, was previously married to 1985 Miss Utah Gina Larsen.
While the exact details surrounding the beginning of their romance are still unclear, Melinda first revealed in March 2022 that she was officially “dipping her toes into the dating world” again following her divorce from Bill.
She told me at the time CBS mornings host Gayle King said she was ‘absolutely’ open to finding love again – and even revealed she had already met a number of suitors.
“It’s interesting right now,” she said, giggling. “You know, I’m kind of dipping my toe in that water. I feel like I’m in a really good place. And I’m really excited about my life and about the world – the work ahead.”
Melinda seemed to be in good spirits when she was spotted arriving in New York City
Melinda called her breakup with Bill “incredibly painful, in countless ways,” but added that her “main concern” was “protecting her children.” The Gates family is pictured in 2019
It is believed that Melinda was dating former Fox News reporter Jon Du Pre. They are pictured at a basketball game in April 2022
Bill Gates and Paula Hurd attend the 2024 Breakthrough Awards Ceremony at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in April
Bill and Melinda reunited for daughter Phoebe’s 21st birthday party in September 2023
Melinda and Phoebe attend the Clooney Foundation for Justice’s 2023 Albie Awards at the New York Public Library
When they were a couple, the Gates famously said that they would do their best to give their children a normal life, despite the extraordinary circumstances.
Bill previously revealed that he was more interested in educating his children so that they can make something of themselves. He promised to give each of them a small amount of money before passing the rest on to his eponymous foundation.
He said: ‘Our children will get a good education and some money, so they will never be bad off, but they will go out and have their own careers.
‘It’s not a favor to children if they have huge amounts of money. It disrupts everything they could be doing, creating their own path.”
The exes may have tried to raise their children as modestly as possible, but their living situation was far from modest: The family grew up in a mansion in Medina, Washington, which came complete with seven bathrooms, 24 bathrooms, and six kitchens. as well as a private artificial beach, home cinema, gym and trampoline room.
The property, estimated to be worth $131 million, is nicknamed “Xanadu 2.0,” a reference to the fictional estate in the movie “Citizen Kane.”