Bill Gates Attends Jeff Bezos’ Wedding with Girlfriend Paula Hurd: Could This Be the Reason Elon Musk Was Excluded?

In what has become one of the most talked-about weddings of the year, Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez are set to tie the knot in a lavish celebration in Venice, Italy. The wedding promises to be a star-studded affair, with many high-profile guests in attendance, including a few of the world’s most influential figures.

Among the confirmed guests is none other than Bill Gates, the Microsoft co-founder, who attended the wedding welcome party on Thursday, June 26, alongside his girlfriend, Paula Hurd.

The pair were spotted arriving in Venice, looking effortlessly chic—Gates in a classic black suit with a white button-up shirt and Hurd in a stunning black off-the-shoulder dress, accessorized with a sparkling necklace and stud earrings. The wedding welcome party took place at a closed cloister adjacent to the Madonna dell'Orto church, and other notable celebrities, including Tom Brady, Orlando Bloom, Kris Jenner, Kim Kardashian, and Oprah Winfrey, were also spotted in attendance.

However, the wedding of Bezos and Sánchez is stirring up more than just excitement about the extravagant celebrations. One name is noticeably absent from the guest list—Elon Musk. And the exclusion of Musk has sparked plenty of rumors, with some speculating that the ongoing tensions between Musk and Gates might be a contributing factor.

The Relationship Between Bill Gates and Paula Hurd

Bill Gates and Paula Hurd have been the subject of public interest ever since their romance was made official in February 2023. Their relationship came nearly two years after Gates and his ex-wife Melinda French Gates announced their divorce in May 2021, following 27 years of marriage.

While the details of Gates and Hurd’s relationship were kept under wraps for a while, they have since become more open about their partnership. The couple was spotted together at several sporting events, including the Laver Cup in September 2022 and the Australian Open in January 2023. Gates even gave Hurd a shout-out in the acknowledgments of his memoir, "Source Code: My Beginnings."

Their first appearance together on the red carpet was at the 10th Breakthrough Prize Ceremony at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in April 2024, marking a significant step in their relationship.

The Tension Between Bill Gates and Elon Musk

While Bill Gates’ personal life seems to be flourishing, his professional relationship with Elon Musk has been anything but smooth. The two billionaires have had public disagreements for years, dating back to their differing views on artificial intelligence (AI) and other key technological issues.

In late 2017, Gates publicly downplayed Musk’s warnings about the potential dangers of AI, dismissing them as exaggerated. This statement kicked off a series of arguments between the two, with Musk criticizing Gates for being too cautious and failing to understand the true potential risks and rewards of technological progress.

As the years went on, their professional differences became even more pronounced. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Gates focused heavily on the development of vaccines and public health measures, while Musk clashed with local governments over lockdown restrictions, pushing for the reopening of his Tesla factories. Musk criticized Gates for what he saw as a lack of urgency regarding economic recovery and the long-term consequences of lockdowns.

Their disputes reached a boiling point in 2020 when Musk accused Gates of being a "climate change hypocrite" and poked fun at his wealth and influence. Musk also publicly mocked Gates after it was revealed that Gates had shorted Tesla stock, which Musk deemed as a betrayal of the electric vehicle industry he was trying to promote. Musk even referred to Gates as “Billy G” in a disparaging meme.

Fast forward to 2023, and the feud escalated once again when Musk publicly criticized Gates for his stance on electric trucks. Gates had written a blog post questioning the viability of electric trucks for long-haul freight, arguing that heavy-duty vehicles would not benefit from battery technology.

Musk shot back on social media, calling Gates "clueless" about electric vehicles and once again accusing him of undermining the progress of the electric vehicle industry.

But the rift didn’t stop there. In 2025, Gates accused Musk of “killing the world’s poorest children” by slashing the budget of USAID, which supports global health initiatives, including vaccines and medical treatment for developing countries. Musk’s actions, which included cutting nearly 80% of USAID’s budget, sparked a heated exchange between the two, with Gates warning that Musk’s policies would lead to an increase in childhood deaths worldwide due to a lack of access to vaccines and essential medicine.

Musk, ever the provocateur, responded by calling Gates a "great liar" and questioning his philanthropic efforts. The growing tension between the two billionaires has now spilled over into the personal realm, with their animosity seemingly influencing the guest list for Bezos’ wedding.

The Wedding Exclusion: Could Gates’ Presence Be the Key?

Bill Gates’ attendance at Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s wedding has raised eyebrows, especially considering the years of rivalry and animosity between Gates and Musk. Some sources suggest that Musk’s exclusion from the wedding may be rooted in his strained relationship with Gates.

If Bezos, who shares a professional rivalry with Musk in the space and tech industries, chose to invite Gates and not Musk, it would reflect the deepening divide between the two tech moguls.

While no one has publicly stated that Musk was deliberately excluded due to his feud with Gates, the timing of the ongoing tensions between the two could be a significant factor in the decision. Bezos and Gates have long been allies in the tech world, with shared interests in philanthropy and global issues like climate change and public health.

Meanwhile, Musk, with his more confrontational approach to business and technology, has frequently clashed with both Bezos and Gates over their differing philosophies and visions for the future.

There’s also the fact that Bezos and Gates have collaborated in the past on various philanthropic endeavors, including efforts to combat climate change. Given their shared interests in addressing global issues, it’s possible that their mutual admiration for each other led to Gates being invited to the wedding while Musk, with whom Bezos has had a long-standing rivalry, was left off the guest list.

The Broader Implications of Their Feud

The rivalry between Gates and Musk reflects a broader divide within the tech world—a division between those who take a more traditional, evidence-based approach to innovation (like Gates) and those who are more willing to embrace risk and bold, unconventional ideas (like Musk). This clash of philosophies has played out not only in their personal interactions but also in their public statements and business decisions.

For Bezos, the wedding marks a milestone in both his personal and professional life, but the exclusion of Musk adds an interesting layer of drama to the event. Musk, for his part, seems to be unfazed by his exclusion, as he continues to dominate the tech world with his companies, SpaceX and Tesla, while also making headlines with his latest ventures.

As for Gates, his appearance at Bezos’ wedding signifies the continued influence he holds in the tech and philanthropic worlds. His relationship with Paula Hurd has also brought him back into the public eye, showing that even as he faces challenges in his personal and professional life, he remains a significant figure in global affairs.

While the wedding of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez promises to be a glamorous and unforgettable event, the underlying tensions between Musk, Gates, and Bezos add an intriguing layer of drama to the celebrations. The exclusion of Musk from the guest list may be a reflection of the personal and professional rifts that have defined the relationship between these tech giants for years.

As the world watches these billionaires navigate their rivalries and relationships, one thing is clear: the battle for dominance in the tech world is far from over. Whether it’s on the grand stage of a wedding or behind the scenes of their businesses, the rivalry between Elon Musk, Bill Gates, and Jeff Bezos will continue to captivate the public for years to come.