Ann Winblad Biography

Ann Winblad is a successful American businesswoman who is popularly known to the world as the ex-girlfriend of Bill Gates. She has worked and founded and is a partner of many famous firms like Hummer Winblad Venture Partners.

Early Life

Ann Winblad was born on November 1, 1950, in Red Wing, Minnesota, USA. She is the daughter of her mother Elizabeth Stark and her father Wilbur Winblad. She has five other siblings with whom she grew up in Rushford and Farmington. As a student, Ann earned her degree of Bachelor in Arts, majoring in Mathematics and Business Administration from St. Catherine University. For her master’s degree in education, she attended the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota.

Ann Winblad Career

After Ann graduated from her University, she and three of her co-workers left the Federal reserve and found Open Systems Inc., which was the accounting software company that was then sold for $ 15 million after 6 years. After the company was sold, Ann became a tech consultant for IBM and Microsoft. She then invested in Microsoft in the 1980s. She met Bill Gates in 1984 at Ben Rosen- Esther Dyson computer conference. In 1989, she co-founded a venture capital firm called Hummer Winblad Venture Partners with John Hummer. It took them nearly two years to raise enough funds to launch the firm with IBM and St. Paul Companies investing in them.

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Controversy

In the recent controversy, it was mentioned that Bill Gates and his wife Melinda are trying their best to have a healthy divorce. During this, it was found out that before marrying Melinda, Bill Gates asked approval from his ex-girlfriend Ann and she approved it by saying that they look good together. It is also said that while marrying Melinda, he also made an agreement with her that she would allow him to meet Ann at least once a year and they did meet every year on a long weekend vacation.

Ann Winblad Biography

Real Name Ann L. Winblad
Birth Date November 1, 1950
Age (as of 2021) 70 Years
Birth Place Red Wing, Minnesota, USA
Nationality American
Profession Businesswoman
Religion Christianity
Sun sign Scorpio

Physical Statistics

Height in feet inches – 5’ 4” – in Centimeters – 163 cm (Approx.)
Weight in Kilograms – 56 kg  –  in Pounds –  123 lbs (Approx.)
Shoe Size 7 (U.S.)
Hair Color Brunette
Eye Color Hazel
Body Type Slim

Family

Father Wilbur Winblad
Mother Elizabeth Stark
Brother Dave Winblad
Sister Mary Regenscheid, Susan Shields, Patty Jorgenson, Kathy Winblad Polk

Qualification/Education

School Local High School
College St. Catherine University, Saint Paul,  St. Thomas University, Saint Paul

Relationship Status

Marital Status Married
Affair No
Is she Lesbian? No
Who is her Husband? Bill Gates (m. 1984-87), Edward Alex Klein
Children Not Known
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Personal Life

Ann is married to the private investigator of San Fransisco named Edward Alex Kline, who is the younger brother of actor Kevin Kline. Before her marriage, Ann dated Bill Gates with whom she still goes to a long weekend vacation at her beach cottage on the Outer Banks of North Carolina where they meet at least once in a year and ride dune buggies, walk on the beach and share their thoughts about themselves and the world.

Ann Winblad Net Worth

Ann is most notable for being a woman who engineered in Silicon Valley. As a famous and successful businesswoman, Ann is known to earn an estimated net worth of $ 15 million USD which she earns through her knowledge and skills as an entrepreneur.

Trivia

  • Ann was a cheerleader and student valedictorian during her high school years.
  • In 1997, Ann received the John F. Cade Award for outstanding entrepreneurship.
  • In the fledgling years of her firm, they launched 16 start-ups.
  • Ann joined the Federal Reserve with her master’s degree where she worked for 13 months.
  • In 2000, Ann was inducted into the Fortune Small Business Hall of Fame.
  • Ann and Bill Gates remained friends even after their breakup.
  • Ann is known as one of the first female programmers.

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