Just days after Melinda French Gates opened up about her divorce from Bill Gates , their youngest daughter, Phoebe Gates , is stepping into the spotlight with a personal reveal of her own.
In the April 1, 2025 premiere episode of The Burnouts, a podcast she co-hosts with her former Stanford roommate Sophia Kianni, Phoebe got candid about the pressure she felt starting college as the daughter of two world-famous figures.
The podcast, produced under Alex Cooper’s Unwell Network, chronicles Phoebe and Sophia’s journey as first-time founders of Phia, a fashion-tech startup aiming to make online shopping more sustainable and financially smart. The platform—expected to launch later this year—is a free Chrome extension that helps users assess future resale value of fashion items and recommends secondhand options.
“The point of this show is not really to be polished. It’s not a buttoned-up business plan,” Phoebe told People in April 2025. “I get so nervous before filming. I’m like, ‘Should we even be saying this stuff?’”
Their dream audience? “The girl who’s grinding, she’s moving up the ladder, she’s working hard, she’s falling down and getting back up,” Phoebe said.
“I had so much insecurity and, like, such a desire to prove myself,” Phoebe said on the podcast. “I’m like, I have so much privilege. I’m a nepo baby. I had so much insecurity around that.”
Who is Phoebe Gates?
Bill and Melinda welcomed their youngest child, Phoebe Adele Gates, on September 14, 2002.
She graduated from high school in 2021, and on that day, her older sister Jennifer Gates celebrated the moment with a heartfelt Instagram post: "Pheebs – I can't believe this day is here (time flies! ) but you are wise beyond your years, and so ready for this next incredible chapter in your journey. I love you, I am immensely proud of you and can't wait for all that's to come at Stanford (!!! ) and beyond."
Phoebe went on to graduate from Stanford University in just three years in June 2024, earning a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology and a minor in African Studies. Her mom, Melinda, was the commencement speaker at the ceremony.
While many know her as the daughter of a tech billionaire, Phoebe is forging her own path. She’s outspoken on social and political issues—especially women’s rights. After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, she wrote an article for Vogue examining its global impact and used her social media platforms to share information about Planned Parenthood.
She also has a deep love for fashion. In September 2022, she interned at British Vogue, calling it “the internship of a lifetime.”
From her father, Phoebe inherited a love of reading. In a 2018 post, Bill Gates shared that the two bonded over books by author John Green, quoting Phoebe as saying: “For years I have been a loyal John Green fan—devouring his novels in the back of coffee shops, while traveling, and curled up on my couch. … Turtles All the Way Down hit closer to home for me than the rest.”
She’s also active on TikTok, where she uses her platform to counter misinformation about her family and spotlight causes she cares about, including sustainable fashion and women’s health.
Phoebe is also making waves in her personal life. She sparked dating rumors with Arthur Donald, Paul McCartney’s grandson, in late 2023 after a European vacation together. By mid-2024, she confirmed the relationship, posting a graduation photo with the caption: “My boyfriend, Arthur, giving me a lift post-ceremony.”
With a Stanford degree, a rising startup, a new podcast, and a growing voice in the public space, Phoebe Gates is not just navigating privilege—she’s actively shaping what she wants her legacy to be.
In the April 1, 2025 premiere episode of The Burnouts, a podcast she co-hosts with her former Stanford roommate Sophia Kianni, Phoebe got candid about the pressure she felt starting college as the daughter of two world-famous figures.
The podcast, produced under Alex Cooper’s Unwell Network, chronicles Phoebe and Sophia’s journey as first-time founders of Phia, a fashion-tech startup aiming to make online shopping more sustainable and financially smart. The platform—expected to launch later this year—is a free Chrome extension that helps users assess future resale value of fashion items and recommends secondhand options.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DHKD-n8y3r3/ https://www.instagram.com/p/DHKD-n8y3r3/
“The point of this show is not really to be polished. It’s not a buttoned-up business plan,” Phoebe told People in April 2025. “I get so nervous before filming. I’m like, ‘Should we even be saying this stuff?’”
Their dream audience? “The girl who’s grinding, she’s moving up the ladder, she’s working hard, she’s falling down and getting back up,” Phoebe said.
“I had so much insecurity and, like, such a desire to prove myself,” Phoebe said on the podcast. “I’m like, I have so much privilege. I’m a nepo baby. I had so much insecurity around that.”
Who is Phoebe Gates?
Bill and Melinda welcomed their youngest child, Phoebe Adele Gates, on September 14, 2002.
She graduated from high school in 2021, and on that day, her older sister Jennifer Gates celebrated the moment with a heartfelt Instagram post: "Pheebs – I can't believe this day is here (time flies! ) but you are wise beyond your years, and so ready for this next incredible chapter in your journey. I love you, I am immensely proud of you and can't wait for all that's to come at Stanford (!!! ) and beyond."
Phoebe went on to graduate from Stanford University in just three years in June 2024, earning a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology and a minor in African Studies. Her mom, Melinda, was the commencement speaker at the ceremony.
While many know her as the daughter of a tech billionaire, Phoebe is forging her own path. She’s outspoken on social and political issues—especially women’s rights. After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, she wrote an article for Vogue examining its global impact and used her social media platforms to share information about Planned Parenthood.
She also has a deep love for fashion. In September 2022, she interned at British Vogue, calling it “the internship of a lifetime.”
From her father, Phoebe inherited a love of reading. In a 2018 post, Bill Gates shared that the two bonded over books by author John Green, quoting Phoebe as saying: “For years I have been a loyal John Green fan—devouring his novels in the back of coffee shops, while traveling, and curled up on my couch. … Turtles All the Way Down hit closer to home for me than the rest.”
She’s also active on TikTok, where she uses her platform to counter misinformation about her family and spotlight causes she cares about, including sustainable fashion and women’s health.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cx5Td6yLN2U/ https://www.instagram.com/p/Cx5Td6yLN2U/
Phoebe is also making waves in her personal life. She sparked dating rumors with Arthur Donald, Paul McCartney’s grandson, in late 2023 after a European vacation together. By mid-2024, she confirmed the relationship, posting a graduation photo with the caption: “My boyfriend, Arthur, giving me a lift post-ceremony.”
With a Stanford degree, a rising startup, a new podcast, and a growing voice in the public space, Phoebe Gates is not just navigating privilege—she’s actively shaping what she wants her legacy to be.
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