Melinda French Gates and her new boyfriend, Philip Vaughn, were spotted together on a romantic date night in New York City, just after revealing their new relationship. The couple went out for dinner at Le Bernardin in Midtown Manhattan, where they were seen arriving in an SUV, with Vaughn helping Melinda to get inside. Walking hand-in-hand upon arrival, Melinda wore a black maxi dress and silver necklace, while Vaughn was dressed in a black suit and white button-up shirt for the evening. The pair’s date night occurred after they arrived in New York City via helicopter earlier in the day.
Photos obtained by Page Six showed Melinda and Vaughn holding hands as they made their way to an SUV. Vaughn’s LinkedIn profile revealed his previous employment at Microsoft, the company co-founded by Melinda’s ex-husband Bill Gates, for nearly nine years. Currently, Vaughn serves as the founder and chairman of Tavour, a craft beer delivery company he launched in 2011. Melinda’s new romance with Vaughn follows her divorce from Bill Gates three years ago, after 27 years of marriage. Their split was reportedly influenced by Bill’s connections with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as well as an alleged affair with a Microsoft employee in 2019.
In a conversation with Gayle King on “CBS Mornings,” Melinda disclosed her interactions with Epstein, stating she only met him once and immediately regretted it. Describing Epstein as “abhorrent” and “evil personified,” Melinda expressed empathy for the women affected by his actions. She made it clear that her discomfort with Bill’s meetings with Epstein was a factor in their separation. Additionally, Melinda addressed Bill’s affair with a Microsoft employee as another reason for their split. The couple shares three children – daughters Jennifer and Phoebe, and son Rory – and Melinda briefly dated former Fox News correspondent Jon Du Pre for two years before their breakup in April.
Following their divorce, Melinda was linked romantically to Paula Hurd, while Bill has been dating Paula since last February. Despite the challenges faced within her marriage to Bill Gates, Melinda appears to have found happiness again with her new relationship with Philip Vaughn. The pair’s public outings and intimate moments captured by photographers hint at a blossoming romance. As Melinda and Vaughn continue to navigate their new relationship in the public eye, their affectionate gestures and shared experiences are just the beginning of their love story.
