Golden girl without billions: how Bill Gates' daughter lives

12 Jun 2025 15:42

World 238

Microsoft founder Bill Gates, whose fortune is estimated at an astronomical 113 billion US dollars, has remained on the list of the richest people on the planet for several decades. However, instead of creating a financial dynasty, the billionaire made a radical decision - to direct his colossal fortune to charity rather than passing it on to his children.

"I will move down [in the ranking] and eventually exit the list of the world's richest people," Gates frankly stated in his Twitter.

The businessman decided to provide his heirs with only basic needs - housing and quality education. They must forge their own path forward, without relying on their father's billions.

This principle was fully experienced by the billionaire's youngest daughter - 23-year-old Phoebe Gates. After receiving a prestigious education at Stanford, the young woman decided to try her hand at business and turned to her father for advice. To her surprise, Bill not only didn't give specific recommendations but also refused to financially support her project.

Finding herself without her famous father's support, Phoebe had to independently seek investors for her startup - a website for comparing clothing prices. As a result of persistent efforts, she managed to attract 350 thousand dollars: 250 thousand in the form of a grant from Stanford University and another 100 thousand from private investors.

"If I succeed, everyone will of course say: it's because I'm Gates' daughter. And there's some truth to that: without my parents, I would never have gotten into Stanford," Phoebe honestly admits in an interview.

However, the youngest heir to the Microsoft empire has other prospects as well. In addition to her entrepreneurial activities, the young woman is actively developing her blog on social media, where more than half a million subscribers follow her life. This popularity, combined with her father's famous name, undoubtedly opens up many opportunities for her, despite the absence of a direct inheritance.