Inside the charmed life of Phoebe Gates, youngest daughter of tech billionaire Bill Gates

Born on Sept. 14, 2002, Phoebe entered the world when her father’s net worth had already surpassed US$50 billion, according to entertainment site The List.

She grew up in a $131 million mansion in Washington State, the U.S., complete with 24 bathrooms, six kitchens, a movie theater, a gym, a trampoline room, and a man-made beach, according to Daily Mail.

She attended Lakeside School, an elite private institution in Seattle her father once attended. Its tuition for the 2024–25 academic year is listed at $44,730.

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

While her older siblings Jennifer, 29, and Rory, 25, have largely remained out of the spotlight, Phoebe has embraced it.

The Stanford University grad has amassed over 517,000 followers on Instagram and more than 255,000 on TikTok, where she shares her passion for fashion, feminism and personal reflections.

Her social media presence often showcases a blend of glamour and advocacy.

One Instagram post features her in a Versace bikini at a tropical destination with the caption, "Thank you." Another, highlighting her fashion choices, reads "fashion week wrap-up."

Alongside these images, Phoebe frequently shares messages supporting women’s rights and reproductive health.

"American women lost the right to safe reproductive care a year ago. This decision awaken a whole new generation," she wrote in a widely circulated Instagram post, referring to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, which had guaranteed women the right to abortion.

She also uses TikTok to speak out against legislation affecting women’s bodies, and, in a Vogue essay, explained what motivates her.

"When you're Melinda's daughter, it's easy to be passionate about reproductive health."

Despite her wealthy and privileged background, she told fashion industry journal Women’s Wear Daily that she is determined to establish her own identity. "Okay, I'm my parents' daughter, that gives me immense privilege, but it's not what I'm defined by."

In April she co-founded e-commerce app Phia with her former Stanford roommate Sophia Kianni. The platform uses AI to help users compare prices of new and second-hand products across more than 40,000 websites.

She raised $850,000 in startup capital independently, without financial assistance from her parents, a move her father said he was grateful for.

While Bill noted he would have supported her business if necessary, he admitted it would have made things more complicated. "Luckily, it never happened."

Despite the privileges of her upbringing, Phoebe has also faced challenges.

In the Netflix docuseries "What’s Next? The Future With Bill Gates," she told her father she often encountered conspiracy theories about him. "I've even had friends cut me off because of these vaccine rumors."

In an interview on the Call Her Daddy podcast hosted by Alex Cooper, Phoebe opened up about trying to find her own identity.

When asked whether it was difficult to step out of her father’s shadow, she replied: "Yeah, I think 100%. I am in my parents’ shadows, and it is gonna be tough to make a name for myself.

"I had to learn very early on who were true friends, who weren’t true friends, but honestly, I think all in all, I have an incredibly privileged life."

Following her parents’ high-profile divorce in 2021, Phoebe has maintained close relationships with both.

The couple waited to announce their separation until after Phoebe graduated high school, according to People magazine.

"They limped through until their kids were out of school like a lot of people," a source told People.

She often expresses her affection for her father online.

In one birthday tribute, she joked: "Happy birthday, Dad! @thisisbillgates - my favorite person who now texts me to let me know he's going to send me an email."

Bill, 69, announced he will give away 99% of his fortune, leaving 1% of his estimated $116.5 billion fortune for himself and his children.

As for her personal life, she is currently dating Arthur Donald, the grandson of Beatles legend Paul McCartney, according to Nylon magazine.