Hurd made the denial after rumors circulated about her relationship with Bill Gates after she was seen wearing a ring while out in New York City.

Recently, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates’s staff formally refuted engagement rumors involving him and Paula Hurd, his girlfriend. Hurd’s ring-wearing on an outing in New York City sparked rumors about their relationship status, which led to the denial.

Gates’ spokeswoman confirmed the situation in a statement provided to People magazine, stating that Hurd had owned the ring in question for several decades, dispelling any rumors of an impending engagement.

The 67-year-old billionaire’s relationship with Paula Hurd, 60, the widow of former Oracle CEO Mark Hurd, was initially made public earlier this year in February. The couple has kept their romance out of the public eye by maintaining a low profile despite being together for about a year.

To further stoke rumors about their romance, tennis fans saw Gates and Hurd together in photos taken during the Australian Open in January and the Indian Wells tennis tournament’s WTA semifinal in March 2022.

The two did appear together in Sydney last January, where they met with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, despite their discretion.

It’s important to remember that in May 2021, Bill Gates used Twitter to announce his well-publicized divorce from Melinda French. One of the most talked-about splits in recent years was the divorce. French allegedly moved on after the divorce and is now seeing Jon Du Pre, a former television reporter.

Currently, it appears like Paula Hurd and Bill Gates are happy with their relationship and have not pursued engagement. The couple continues to manage their romance away from the harsh attention of the media by combining their love of tennis with their need for seclusion.