Bill Gates’ youngest daughter Phoebe says she and siblings were not allowed to use father’s last name during childhood

"My parents were really intentional about making sure we didn't use my dad's last name Gates until we were in high school, we went by my mom's last name," Phoebe, 23, said in a recent episode of her podcast "The Burnouts," Benzinga reported.

"And it really allowed me to be able to make friends in like a really authentic way."

Phoebe is the youngest of Bill and ex-wife Melinda French Gates’ three children, including Rory John Gates, 26, and Jennifer Gates, 29.

The decision was led by Melinda, who sought to protect her children from the spotlight and entitlement associated with their father’s wealth. In a November interview with Vogue, Melinda explained that even Bill’s school drop-offs were delayed to avoid immediate recognition by classmates. She said the goal was not secrecy but allowing her children to form their identities before being seen as heirs to one of the richest families in the world.

Bill Gates and youngest daughter Phoebe Gates. Photo courtesy of Phoebe's Instagram

Melinda previously discussed her decision in a March interview with Elle magazine, saying that each of her children chose when to adopt their father’s surname, as she wanted them to be seen for who they were.

"My oldest daughter went in with Gates; she felt like she was ready to take that name on. My son chose not to. He used French all the way through high school."

For Phoebe, the pressure of being the daughter of Microsoft’s founder persisted into adulthood.

"I had so much insecurity and such a desire to prove myself," she recalled in an earlier episode of her podcast, describing how she felt during her first weeks at Stanford University, Fortune reported.

"I came in, I was like, I have so much privilege, I’m a nepo baby, I had so much insecurity around that. I feel like it’s so hard when you’re a freshman in college because you have no experience, you have nothing."