Affair Index
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Microsoft · MSFT · 2021

Bill Gates

An old affair, a board probe, then the headlines.

Left the board

Microsoft's board investigated a past relationship with an employee before Gates left it in 2020, the Wall Street Journal reported in May 2021. His spokesperson confirmed “an affair almost 20 years ago which ended amicably.”123

Relationship
Divorced in 2021
Outcome
Left the board
News day
−1.2%
Since the news
+111%

Since the news

+111%

$248.15 on May 14, 2021
$523.88 on Nov 13, 2026 · 1,382 trading days

Before the newsAbove the pre-news closeBelow itThe last close before the news

The dip News day −1.2%

MSFT, change since the May 14, 2021 close−10%0%+10%+20%WSJ reportApr 19, 2021May 17Jun 15Jul 14Aug 11Apr 19, 2021: MSFT +4.3%Apr 20, 2021: MSFT +4.1%Apr 21, 2021: MSFT +5.0%Apr 22, 2021: MSFT +3.6%Apr 23, 2021: MSFT +5.2%Apr 26, 2021: MSFT +5.4%Apr 27, 2021: MSFT +5.6%Apr 28, 2021: MSFT +2.6%Apr 29, 2021: MSFT +1.8%Apr 30, 2021: MSFT +1.6%May 3, 2021: MSFT +1.5%May 4, 2021: MSFT −0.1%May 5, 2021: MSFT −0.7%May 6, 2021: MSFT +0.6%May 7, 2021: MSFT +1.7%May 10, 2021: MSFT −0.4%May 11, 2021: MSFT −0.8%May 12, 2021: MSFT −3.7%May 13, 2021: MSFT −2.1%May 14, 2021: MSFT 0.0%May 17, 2021: MSFT −1.2%May 18, 2021: MSFT −2.0%May 19, 2021: MSFT −1.8%May 20, 2021: MSFT −0.4%May 21, 2021: MSFT −1.0%May 24, 2021: MSFT +1.3%May 25, 2021: MSFT +1.7%May 26, 2021: MSFT +1.6%May 27, 2021: MSFT +0.7%May 28, 2021: MSFT +0.8%Jun 1, 2021: MSFT −0.1%Jun 2, 2021: MSFT −0.1%Jun 3, 2021: MSFT −0.8%Jun 4, 2021: MSFT +1.3%Jun 7, 2021: MSFT +2.5%Jun 8, 2021: MSFT +2.0%Jun 9, 2021: MSFT +2.4%Jun 10, 2021: MSFT +3.9%Jun 11, 2021: MSFT +4.2%Jun 14, 2021: MSFT +5.0%Jun 15, 2021: MSFT +4.4%Jun 16, 2021: MSFT +4.0%Jun 17, 2021: MSFT +5.4%Jun 18, 2021: MSFT +4.8%Jun 21, 2021: MSFT +6.1%Jun 22, 2021: MSFT +7.2%Jun 23, 2021: MSFT +7.1%Jun 24, 2021: MSFT +7.7%Jun 25, 2021: MSFT +7.0%Jun 28, 2021: MSFT +8.5%Jun 29, 2021: MSFT +9.6%Jun 30, 2021: MSFT +9.4%Jul 1, 2021: MSFT +9.7%Jul 2, 2021: MSFT +12.1%Jul 6, 2021: MSFT +12.2%Jul 7, 2021: MSFT +13.1%Jul 8, 2021: MSFT +12.1%Jul 9, 2021: MSFT +12.3%Jul 12, 2021: MSFT +12.0%Jul 13, 2021: MSFT +13.5%Jul 14, 2021: MSFT +14.1%Jul 15, 2021: MSFT +13.5%Jul 16, 2021: MSFT +13.4%Jul 19, 2021: MSFT +11.9%Jul 20, 2021: MSFT +12.8%Jul 21, 2021: MSFT +13.7%Jul 22, 2021: MSFT +15.6%Jul 23, 2021: MSFT +17.0%Jul 26, 2021: MSFT +16.8%Jul 27, 2021: MSFT +15.7%Jul 28, 2021: MSFT +15.6%Jul 29, 2021: MSFT +15.7%Jul 30, 2021: MSFT +15.1%Aug 2, 2021: MSFT +15.0%Aug 3, 2021: MSFT +16.0%Aug 4, 2021: MSFT +15.7%Aug 5, 2021: MSFT +16.9%Aug 6, 2021: MSFT +16.9%Aug 9, 2021: MSFT +16.5%Aug 10, 2021: MSFT +15.7%Aug 11, 2021: MSFT +15.9%
  1. 1May 17 · WSJ report
Change since the close before the news
Melinda French GatesEx-wife
Melinda French Gates: 1994–20211994–2021
Microsoft employeeAffair (around 2000)
2000: Roughly when: “almost 20 years ago,” his spokesperson said in 20212019: Her letter prompts a board probeMay 16, 2021: Reported by the WSJ
Paula HurdGirlfriend
Paula Hurd: 2022–now2022–now
  • Former spouse
  • Partner
  • Acknowledged
  • News day
PersonRelationshipStatusNotes
Melinda French GatesEx-wifeMarried 27 years; divorced Aug 2021They met at Microsoft in 1987, where she was a product manager. Neither pays spousal support.456
Microsoft employeeNot namedAffair (around 2000)Acknowledged by his spokespersonA Microsoft engineer wrote to the board in 2019 that she had a sexual relationship with Gates over several years, the Journal reported. The board hired a law firm; Gates left before it finished.12
Paula HurdGirlfriend“Serious girlfriend” (2025)Mark Hurd's widow. Seen with Gates from 2022; in 2025 he said he's “lucky to have a serious girlfriend named Paula.”47

  1. An affair with a Microsoft employee. In 2021 his spokesperson put it “almost 20 years ago.”13

  2. An employee's letter prompts a board investigation with an outside law firm.21

  3. Gates leaves Microsoft's board, saying he wants to focus on philanthropy.3

  4. Bill and Melinda Gates announce their divorce.8

  5. The Wall Street Journal reports the probe. His spokesperson: “an affair almost 20 years ago which ended amicably.”13

  6. The divorce is finalized.6

  7. Gates calls Paula Hurd his “serious girlfriend.”47

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    Daily price historyYahoo Finance · daily closes to Nov 13, 2026