Melinda Gates Shuts Down Engagement Rumors, Confirms Split From Ex-Boyfriend Jon Du Pre

Hold on a minute, wedding bells were ringing a little too loud for Melinda Gates! Over the weekend, a photo of Melinda stepping off a helicopter with a giant sparkler on her ring finger sent the rumor mill into overdrive. But before you start planning the guest list, Melinda’s rep has stepped in to clear the air.

Melinda Says “No” to Engagement (and Jon Du Pre)

According to a statement to People magazine, Melinda is not engaged and actually isn’t even dating former Fox News correspondent Jon Du Pre anymore! That ring? Well, that remains a mystery for now.

A Whirlwind Romance and a Quiet Split

Remember when Melinda and Jon were spotted at a basketball game back in November 2022? It looked like Melinda, freshly divorced from Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates after 27 years, was ready to jump back into the dating pool. Reports claimed they’d been seeing each other for months.

A Look Back at the Bill & Melinda Gates Divorce

In case you missed it, Bill and Melinda announced their split on Twitter (now X) in 2021. Their statement spoke of growing apart after decades together, but pledged their continued commitment to their foundation. Melinda opened up about the emotional toll of the divorce on “CBS Mornings” in 2022, calling it “painful stuff.”

Melinda Moves On (But Maybe Not With That Ring!)

While the engagement rumors are swirling toilets, it seems Melinda is focused on healing and moving forward. She recently told Gayle King she feels like she’s “turning a page” and is excited for what the future holds.

So there you have it! Melinda Gates is a strong, independent woman who is calling the shots in her love life. And that giant diamond ring? We’ll just have to wait and see what the story is behind that!