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Melinda Gates’ breakup from former Fox News reporter Jon Du Pre revealed after engagement rumors

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Melinda French Gates has no plans to walk down the aisle for a second time.

The billionaire philanthropist sparked rumors that she and her last public boyfriend, former Fox News correspondent Jon Du Pre, were engaged when she was spotted wearing a massive diamond ring on that finger over the weekend, but a rep for French Gates tells Page Six exclusively that the hearsay is not true.

“Melinda is not engaged and is no longer dating Jon Du Pre,” the spokesperson says.

melinda gates and jon du pre
Melinda Gates is not engaged nor is she still dating former Fox News correspondent Jon Du Pre. AP
melinda gates and jon du pre standing in a crowd
A spokesperson for the billionaire philanthropist confirmed the news Monday morning. Getty Images
melinda french gates exiting a helicopter
French Gates sparked engagement rumors when she was spotted wearing a huge diamond ring on her left hand. TheImageDirect.com
close up of melinda gates' hand with a ring on the left hand
It turned out just to be a personal bauble. TheImageDirect.com

It’s not known when exactly she and the reporter parted ways.

French Gates, 59, was photographed disembarking a helicopter with a male assistant in New York City. Although she was dressed casually in a pair of capris and a white blouse, the “Moment of Lift” author raised eyebrows with the bauble on her left hand, which helped carry her large Chanel tote.

She and the communications specialist were first linked in 2022 when they were spotted attending a Nets and Celtics Game in April of that year.

jon du pre selfie in the desert
It’s unknown when she and the communications specialist parted ways.
jon du pre selfie in a mountain range
They were first linked in 2022. Jon Du Pre/Instagram

TMZ reported that the now-former pair, in addition to some members of their families, stayed at Pelican Hill, a five-star hotel in Newport Beach, Calif.

The “Prodigal Father” author, 65, shares three children with his ex-wife, Gina: sons Kasey and Jonny, who graduated from BYU, and daughter Jessie, who graduated from University of Utah.

French Gates and her ex-husband, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, announced their split in May 2021 after 27 years of marriage. They finalized their divorce three months later.

melinda french gates
The author and Bill Gates divorced in 2021 after 27 years of marriage. Getty Images
melinda and bill gates
“After a great deal of thought and a lot of work on our relationship, we have made the decision to end our marriage,” they said in a joint statement at the time. Getty Images for Robin Hood

“After a great deal of thought and a lot of work on our relationship, we have made the decision to end our marriage,” they said in a joint statement at the time.


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She later admitted that Gates’ association with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein played a role in their divorce.

bill and melinda gates with their children
The former couple often reunite for events involving their children. melindafrenchgates/Instagram
bill gates and paula hurd
The Microsoft co-founder has been dating Paula Hurd. REUTERS

“I did not like that he had meetings with Jeffrey Epstein, no. I made that clear to him,” the former computer scientist told Gayle King on “CBS Mornings.”

“He was abhorrent. He was evil personified. My heart breaks for these women.”

Gates, 68, has been dating late Oracle CEO Mark Hurd’s widow, Paula Hurd, since 2023, and the duo became red-carpet official earlier this month during the10th Breakthrough Prize Ceremony at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles.

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