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Melinda French Gates and her new boyfriend, Philip Vaughn, cozied up for a romantic date night in New York City shortly after debuting their whirlwind romance.
The ex-wife of billionaire Bill Gates appeared giddy as she and the entrepreneur stepped out for dinner at Le Bernardin in Midtown Manhattan on Wednesday.
The couple were photographed taking an SUV to the French restaurant, as Vaughn helped Melinda get inside.
Melinda French Gates and her new boyfriend, Philip Vaughn, stepped out for dinner in New York City on Wednesday. Probe-Media for PageSix.com The two were all smiles as they walked hand-in-hand to a black SUV. Probe-Media for PageSix.comThey walked hand-in-hand upon arriving at their destination while appearing to engage in light conversation.
Melinda, 60, donned a black maxi dress and a silver necklace, while Vaughn sported a black suit and white button-up shirt for the outing.
Their date night comes hours after they debuted their relationship while arriving in the Big Apple via helicopter on Wednesday morning.
They appeared in good spirits. Probe-Media for PageSix.com The entrepreneur helped French Gates get into the SUV on Wednesday. Probe-Media for PageSix.comPhotos exclusively obtained by Page Six showed the philanthropist holding hands with her beau as they walked to an SUV.
Vaughn’s LinkedIn profile revealed he previously worked at the company Melinda’s ex-husband, Bill, co-founded, Microsoft, for nearly nine years between 1999 and 2008.
The businessman currently works as the founder and chairman of the craft beer delivery company Tavour, which he launched in 2011.
Vaughn smiled while getting into the SUV. Probe-Media for PageSix.com The philanthropist and Vaughn arrived at Le Bernardin on Wednesday. Probe-Media for PageSix.comWant more celebrity and pop culture news?
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Melinda’s new romance comes three years after she finalized her divorce from Bill, 69, after 27 years of marriage.
The mom of three previously opened up about her separation from the billionaire, revealing his relationship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was one of the “many things” that contributed to their split.
“I did not like that he had meetings with Jeffrey Epstein, no. I made that clear to him,” she told “CBS Mornings” host Gayle King in 2022.
They smiled while looking at each other. Probe-Media for PageSix.com Vaughn led the way inside the French restaurant. Probe-Media for PageSix.comMelinda explained she met Epstein “exactly one time” because she was curious about him but “regretted it the second [she] walked in the door.”
“He was abhorrent. He was evil personified. My heart breaks for these women,” she said of the pedophile, who died by suicide in prison in 2019.
Melinda also cited Bill’s alleged affair with a Microsoft employee in 2019 for their parting.
Earlier in the day, the billionaire and her beau debuted their romance. Probe-Media for PageSix.com She was previously wed to Bill Gates, seen here in 2018. Getty Images for Robin HoodThe exes share daughters Jennifer, 28, and Phoebe, 22, and son Rory, 25.
After splitting from Bill, Melinda briefly dated former Fox News correspondent Jon Du Pre for two years. Page Six exclusively revealed that they called it quits in April.
The “How to Avoid a Climate Disaster” author, meanwhile, has since moved on with Paula Hurd, whom he’s been romantically linked to since last February.
