Melinda French Gates was spotted showing off a huge new diamond ring on her engagement finger after stepping off a private helicopter at a New York heliport.
Melinda was all smiles, as she was accompanied by an assistant who helped her carry her luggage.
She was seen carrying a large pink Chanel bag that costs around $6,600.
She also wore a light beige knitted jacket, suitable for spring weather. Below, she could be seen wearing a white blouse, black pants and Loewe sneakers.
But it was the huge stone on her ring finger that was front and center as she walked away from the helicopter.
Melinda French Gates was seen with a large diamond ring on her engagement finger after arriving in New York via private helicopter.
Melinda could be seen with a huge diamond on her ring finger as she stepped off the helicopter.
Melinda was all smiles as she walked away from the private helicopter. She and her ex-husband Bill Gates have continued to work on their charitable foundation since their separation in 2021
There has been no public announcement of Melinda’s engagement, but since their high-stakes split in 2021, she and ex-husband Bill have both reportedly been dating new partners.
After the couple split, Melinda spoke in detail about what led to the breakdown of her marriage, and she said that there wasn’t one particular thing that led to their breakup, but rather a bunch of things that had accumulated over time.
She revealed that she slowly realized she “wasn’t healthy” in the relationship and could no longer “trust what she and Bill had.”
Melinda French Gates currently has a net worth of around $13 billion; Bill Gates has a fortune of more than $148 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
Earlier this year, the two split personal services, such as private jets, security and other functions previously housed for both of them under an entity called Watermark.
A close-up view of Melinda’s ring finger gives an idea of the diamond’s size
She looked cheerful as an assistant helped her carry her luggage, carrying an expensive Chanel shopping bag and wearing spring-appropriate outfits.
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 was spotted several times with Paula Hurd, 60, former wife of Oracle co-CEO Mark Hurd, who died in October 2019.
Melinda, who described her divorce from the software billionaire as “incredibly painful”, has reportedly been seeing former Fox journalist Jon Du Pre, 64, since 2022.
Du Pre, who worked across the country as a news anchor in various cities, previously married Miss Utah, Gina Larsen, in 1985.
Although the exact details surrounding the start of their romance are still unclear, Melinda first revealed in March 2022 that she was “officially diving back into the dating world after her divorce from Bill.”
At the time, she told CBS Mornings host Gayle King that she was “definitely” open to finding love again — and even revealed that she had already met suitors.
“It’s interesting at this point,” she said with a laugh. “You know, I’m kind of dipping my toe in this water. I feel like I’m in a really good place. And I’m really, really excited about my life and about the world – the work that lies ahead.
Melinda seemed in good spirits as she was spotted arriving in New York.
Melinda called her breakup from Bill “incredibly painful, in so many ways,” but added that her “main concern” was “protecting her children.” The Gates family is pictured in 2019
Melinda is believed to have been 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 Prize ceremony at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in April
Bill and Melinda reunited for their 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
While still a couple, the Gateses said they would do their best to provide a normal life for their children, despite the extraordinary circumstances.
Bill previously said he was more interested in giving his children an education so they could make something of themselves. He pledged to give each of them a small amount of money, before donating the rest to his eponymous foundation.
He said: “Our children will get a good education and a bit of money, so they will never be in a difficult situation, but they will go out and have their own careers.
“It is not a favor to children to give them enormous amounts of wealth. It distorts everything they might do, creating their own path.
The exes may have tried to raise their children as modestly as possible, but their living conditions were far from humble: The family grew up in a mansion in Medina, Washington, which included seven rooms bathrooms, 24 bathrooms and six kitchens, as well as its own artificial beach, a home cinema room, a gym and a trampoline room.
The property, worth an estimated $131 million, is dubbed “Xanadu 2.0,” a reference to the fictional estate from the film “Citizen Kane.”
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