Melinda Gates recently said she’s in a “very, very happy” relationship — and these pictures prove it. The 60-year-old was photographed sharing a laugh with boyfriend Philip Vaughn as he helped her out of a car on Sunday. The duo were all smiles during the New York City outing as they walked hand-in-hand. Gates kept warm in a navy blue coat over a leather dress, completing her look with spiked heels and a ponytail. The businessman, for his part, sported a gray suit. The pair have been the subject of romance rumors since they were spotted holding hands in October 2024. Gates gushed about her “pretty great” relationship during a “Late Show With Stephen Colbert” interview on Monday — but did not reference Vaughn by name. She did the same while speaking to People earlier this month. “I am [dating], yes,” Gates said. “I’m just going to leave it there. I am quite happy.” The admission marks Gates’ first public romance since she and ex-husband Bill Gates called it quits in 2021 after 27 years of marriage. The former couple welcomed three children — Jennifer, 28, Rory, 25, and Phoebe, 22 — after tying the knot in January 1994 in Hawaii. Bill, 69, has moved on with girlfriend Paula Hurd since their split. The Microsoft co-founder confirmed that he was “serious” about Oracle co-CEO Mark Hurd’s widow in a February “Today” show interview. “I’m lucky,” he told viewers at the time. “We’re having fun. Going to the [Paris] Olympics and lots of great things.” Over the weekend, Bill and Hurd, 62, made their red carpet debut. The couple’s milestone moment comes as Melinda is busy promoting her new memoir, “The Next Day: Transitions, Change and Moving Forward.”