Does Bill Gates Still Keep In Touch With His Ex (Who Melinda May Not Have Approved Of)?
Highlights
- Bill Gates and his ex-girlfriend Ann Winblad maintained a close friendship even after their romantic relationship ended in 1987. They shared trips, holidays, and sought each other's advice.
- Social media commenters expressed confusion and judgment about their post-breakup friendship, questioning why Melinda Gates accepted this dynamic.
- Bill Gates is currently dating Paula Hurd, and he and Ann Winblad have not pursued a romantic relationship since his divorce. They seem to remain close friends.
In the realm of high-profile divorces, the split between tech mogul Bill Gates and philanthropist Melinda Gates captured the world's attention. However, amid the speculations and rumors surrounding their separation, another intriguing element surfaced: the enduring bond between Bill Gates and his ex-girlfriend Ann Winblad.
Ann Winblad, a venture capitalist and software entrepreneur, was an integral part of Bill Gates' life before he met Melinda. Their relationship, though romantically involved in the past, eventually evolved into a close friendship centered around their shared interests in technology and business ventures. But after the Gates' divorce dominated headlines, many wondered if this unique "friendship" played any role in the marital discord. Does Bill Gates still keep in touch with Ann Winblad today? And if so, could this connection have had any influence on his relationship with Melinda Gates?
Bill Gates Had A Lasting Friendship With Ex Ann Winblad

Before Melinda entered the picture, Bill's heart belonged to software entrepreneur and venture capitalist Ann Winblad, and it seems that their bond endured over the years.
Reports revealed that despite their romantic split in 1987 because he wasn't interested in marriage then, Bill and Ann remained inseparable friends. They've taken trips together, spent holidays side by side, and even sought each other's counsel during major life decisions.
It's claimed that when Bill contemplated proposing to Melinda, he sought Winblad's approval, indicating the deep level of trust and affection between the former lovers.
But as news of this peculiar post-breakup friendship spreads like wildfire, social media commenters are buzzing with confusion and judgment. Many questioned why Melinda seemingly accepted this dynamic, with one fan expressing disbelief at Gates and Winblad's joint vacations, stating, "You don't holiday alone with ex-lovers. Why did his wife accept that?"
Only time will reveal the true impact of this unique friendship on the billionaire's life and the fallout of their high-profile divorce.
Melinda And Bill Gates Divorced In 2021
The world was stunned when power couple Melinda and Bill Gates announced their shocking divorce in May 2021. Melinda spoke out about the heart-wrenching aftermath of their split, shedding light on the true reason behind their separation. The philanthropist reportedly revealed that a devastating affair had plagued their marriage.
Despite attempting to work through the betrayal, Melinda confessed, "There just came a point in time where there was enough there that I realized it just wasn't healthy, and I couldn't trust what we had."
The revelation of Bill Gates' alleged years-long affair with a Microsoft engineer, which began back in 2000, sent shockwaves through the tech world and beyond.
Melinda didn't hold back about the emotional toll the divorce took on her, confessing to days filled with tears and anger, grieving the loss of a lifelong partnership she had cherished. However, she also expressed hope for the future, revealing that she was on a journey of healing and ready to turn the page to a new chapter in her life.
Despite walking away with a staggering $6.3 billion in stocks following the split, Melinda's candid admission showed that no amount of money could erase the pain caused by the betrayal. It's also alleged that Melinda changed her children's inheritance before the divorce.
Did Bill's "Friendship" With Ann Winblad Come Between Bill And Melinda?
As the drama surrounding Bill and Melinda Gates' high-profile divorce unfolds, fans were left wondering whether there was more to their split than meets the eye.
Speculation was rife about the role of Bill's long-standing "friendship" with Ann Winblad in their marital discord. Some pointed to rumors that Melinda had 'multiple boyfriends' before marrying Bill, hinting that the couple was hiding more than just Bill's alleged affair.
The possibility of past entanglements also raised questions about the dynamics of Bill's relationship with Ann, especially during his marriage to Melinda.
Amidst the revelations from Melinda's candid interview about the affair that rocked their marriage, the speculation about Bill's close connection with Ann Winblad continued to fuel the tabloid fire. But ultimately, Bill Gates didn't wind up getting together with Ann after he divorced Melinda.
Is Bill Gates Still Close With His Ex, Ann Winblad Today?
Though rumors of Bill's relationship with Ann Winblad might have popped up during his divorce, it seems that he opted not to pursue a relationship with her after his divorce. It might truly be that Bill and Ann haven't been romantic in years, especially as the alleged affair that ended Gates' marriage was not with Winblad.
Today, Bill Gates is dating Paula Hurd, though engagement rumors about the two are as yet unfounded. After his divorce, Bill was open about planning to find love again; he and Melinda were officially divorced by 2021, and in August of that year, Bill and Paula went public.
Paula Hurd was previously married to the late Mark Hurd, who was the CEO of Oracle—someone in a similar technology circle to Bill. Though it's unclear how they met, it's likely that Bill and Paula connected in their industry.
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