While some celebrity guests were soaking up every bit of attention during Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s headline-making wedding in Venice, Bill Gates and his girlfriend, Paula Hurd decided to keep things simple.
The couple was spotted enjoying a low-key sightseeing date at the Gallerie dell’Accademia di Venezia, a museum famed for its 19th-century art collection.
Dressed in matching black outfits, they looked perfectly content playing tourists under the warm European sun.
Casual Chic Vibes Amid the Glamour
Even though he was far from Silicon Valley, Gates stayed true to his understated tech-mogul style.
He wore a plain black polo tucked into black shorts, paired with a coordinating belt, comfy sneakers, and a black sunhat.
Paula complemented him in a classic two-piece black skirt set, elevated with strappy heels, a pair of black sunglasses, and sparkling diamond jewelry that added just a hint of glam.
The two appeared calm and relaxed as they soaked in the views of Venice before hopping onto a water taxi bound for an undisclosed location.
From Museum Dates to Wedding Glitz
Later that evening, the couple switched gears from casual to classy.
They showed up at one of Bezos and Sánchez’s pre-wedding events dressed to impress.
Gates wore a smart black suit without a tie, while Paula turned heads in a sleek off-shoulder black gown.
Despite the extravagance of the event, the pair managed to stay mostly out of the spotlight—unlike many of the high-profile guests around them.
Ivanka Trump Steals Spotlight—and Sparks Worry
Not everyone was as reserved. Ivanka Trump made headlines of her own—not just for her fashion but also for stirring up concerns.
The former First Daughter posted glamorous shots of herself in a pink Oscar de la Renta mini dress.
But one of the photos accidentally revealed details of her hotel room, prompting online sleuths to worry about potential security risks.
Her outfit wowed, but her online post raised eyebrows at a time when tensions were already high globally, especially following a recent U.S. strike on Iran.
Wedding Plans Face Local Backlash
Meanwhile, Bezos and Sánchez were forced to scramble as locals in Venice protested the event.
Originally planned at a different venue, the wedding had to be relocated last minute due to pushback from residents and global unease tied to political events.
Despite the disruption, the wedding still drew an elite guest list including members of the Kardashian family and actor Orlando Bloom.
Gates and Hurd: From Private Romance to Public Appearances
Bill Gates and Paula Hurd went public with their relationship in early 2023.
It was Gates’ first serious relationship since his divorce from Melinda Gates in 2021.
Their split came after 27 years of marriage and followed reports linking Gates to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The separation wasn’t rushed.
According to Melinda’s newly released book The Next Day, she began considering divorce in 2020, after months of emotional turmoil and nightmares about her family falling apart.
She even described one emotional moment where she pulled over during a drive and cried while listening to Willie Nelson’s Always on My Mind, a song she once shared with Bill.
Melinda’s Side of the Story
Melinda wrote candidly about her heartbreak and the moment she knew she needed to walk away.
One particularly telling chapter detailed a trip to New Mexico she had originally planned to take alone.
On the final night, she sat Bill down and told him it was time to start living separately.
“That conversation was one of the scariest I’ve ever had,” she confessed.
Behind the Split: Betrayal, Regret, and Epstein
In her memoir, Melinda openly addresses the pain caused by Gates’ affair with a Microsoft employee back in 2000—a wound that never fully healed.
She also referenced her discomfort over Gates’ connection with Epstein.
While Bill admitted that his meetings with Epstein were a “huge mistake” and denied knowing the full extent of Epstein’s crimes, Melinda called the entire ordeal “deeply disturbing.”
She didn’t make the decision lightly, but ultimately, she realized she had to choose herself.
Moving Forward
Today, Melinda is focused on her own healing journey and philanthropic work, while Gates seems to be moving on with Hurd by his side.
Their presence in Venice was subtle, a far cry from the glitzy displays of other guests.
Still, their calm demeanor spoke volumes: sometimes, quiet companionship says more than any headline ever could.