She is not your regular heiress.Meet Phoebe Adele Gates, the youngest child of Bill and Melinda French Gates.Despite being the daughter of one of the most influential couples with an incredible amount of money and means, Phoebe is already carving her own path at just 22. Earning a Stanford degree, co-founding her own AI‑powered fashion-tech startup, hosting a candid podcast, and advocating for women’s rights, Phoebe is doing it all on her own terms.Raised with modesty despite her parents’ massive wealth, Phoebe has already launched Phia, a price‑comparison app with investors including Kris Jenner and Sara Blakely. Her other achievements? Read on to take a look at that long list.
Early life and education
Born in 2002 in Seattle, Washington, Phoebe Adele Gates is the youngest of three Gates children. She attended the prestigious Lakeside School before enrolling at Stanford University, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Human Biology with a double minor in African Studies, graduating in just three years in June 2024.Despite her lineage, her father, Bill Gates, insisted she complete her education before launching any venture, even though he dropped out of Harvard himself to start Microsoft
Launching Phia: The startup story
In early 2023, Phoebe co-founded Phia with former Stanford roommate Sophia Kianni, an AI-powered shopping tool described as “Google Flights for fashion.”Phia officially launched in April this year as a free iOS and Chrome extension tool, helping users find smarter, more sustainable shopping options by comparing prices instantly across platforms.How is it different from other shopping apps?Well, Phia aggregates listings from over 40,000 retail and secondhand websites, allowing users to compare prices instantly. Its flagship feature, “Should I Buy This?”, labels the price as overpriced, typical, or fair. What’s more? It also suggests better alternatives when available.
How did she raise the money?
To raise the money for her startup, Phoebe chose the harder way. Despite being the Gates heiress, she did not fund her startup with her family money. Rather, she raised over $500,000 in venture and angel funding, plus another $100,000 via a Stanford entrepreneurship grant, all without financial support from her parents. She even received mentorship from high-profile advisors like Kris Jenner, Spanx founder Sara Blakely, and former Honey president Joanne Bradford.And this alone is a feat worth applauding for!Phoebe’s father, Bill Gates, explained that he was “relieved” she didn’t ask for funding; otherwise, he feared micromanaging would complicate their father-daughter relationship. On the other hand, Phoebe’s mother, Bill’s former wife, Melinda French Gates, echoed a similar sentiment, stating it was essential for Phoebe to learn through real-world rejection, character, credibility, and resilience.Talk about proud parents!
Conscious media presence
Another thing worth mentioning about Phoebe: she is Gen Z-coded! She knows how important it is to leave an impactful social footprint behind, and she has started early on that path.
Phoebe co-launched The Burnouts, a founder-focused podcast on Alexandra Cooper’s Unwell Network, sharing startup lessons and personal stories with fellow Gen Z entrepreneurs. No brownie points for gatekeeping the learnings, so instead, she chose to talk about tips and tricks.Phoebe is also a vocal advocate for women’s health and reproductive rights, recognized in 2024 by Reproductive Freedom for All as a Rising Champion. Apart from that, she has spoken at forums like Goalkeepers and Global Citizen NOW, and contributed essays to publications including Vogue and Teen Vogue.
Building Phia: NOT from scratch
Like all other Gen-Z folks, Phoebe relies on AI, and the refreshing part? She doesn’t mind spilling the beans on how. For Phia, Phoebe and Sophia revealed that they actively use ChatGPT and AI tools to craft marketing content. As per them, they reverse-engineered viral videos by studying their structure using AI, then applied those insights for Phia’s branding. On an episode of ‘The Burnouts’, Phoebe shared, “We don’t start from scratch … ChatGPT supercharges me,” further emphasizing how their digital-first strategy fuels both user growth and media presence.Marketed as a sustainable alternative to fast fashion, Phia aims to make secondhand shopping more accessible and eco-friendly while reducing reliance on platforms like Shein.
Estimated net worth
Phoebe might be the daughter of the Gates, but that doesn’t make her the heiress of Gates’ billion-dollar tech empire. Rather, she has to make her own way in the world of business to taste success. Because Bill Gates has pledged to leave less than 1% of his fortune to each child, around $10 million or less, emphasizing independence over inheritance.
Phoebe’s net worth isn’t publicly estimated yet. However, her real value likely comes more from her founder equity in Phia, personal brand influence, and early-stage investments than any direct family inheritance.
Personal life
Although she has earned quite a number of accolades at just 22, Phoebe isn’t a believer of ‘all work, no play’. She is currently dating Arthur Donald, the grandson of Beatles legend Paul McCartney. They reportedly began dating in 2022 after meeting through a collaboration with Stella McCartney. Donald is the son of Paul McCartney’s daughter, Mary McCartney, and her former husband, Alistair Donald. Their relationship was confirmed in June 2024, after rumors began circulating in October 2023.
While they both come from prominent families, they’ve kept their relationship relatively private. They confirmed their relationship publicly after Phoebe graduated from Stanford University as a valedictorian. Arthur Donald, on the other hand, has kept a low profile and attended Yale University.
