Bill Gates, known for his computer genius and his humanitarian commitments, is also... the proud father of three adult children. In an interview broadcast on YouTube on 30 April, his daughter Phoebe opened up about their relationship, mentioning in particular the Asperger's syndrome from which her famous father lives with. Elon Musk has also claimed that he has the same condition.
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It was a touching confession, full of laughter and memories.
Social awkwardness comes with Asperger's
As a guest on the podcast Call Her Daddy, the youngest member of the Gates clan candidly revealed that her billionaire father, Bill Gates, suffers from Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism that has a particularly severe impact on social interaction. The Microsoft founder himself wrote about this disorder in his memoir entitled Source Code, published last February.
‘My dad is quite socially awkward,’ confided Phoebe, 22. And this awkwardness is particularly noticeable when it comes to meeting his daughter's boyfriends. She went on:
For the guy, terrifying. For me, it’s hilarious because my dad’s pretty socially awkward. Like he’s said before, he has Asperger’s. So, like to me, it’s so funny.
A behaviour that, over the years, has become almost a test. According to Phoebe, her father's reaction can tell you a lot about a suitor's potential. Among the anecdotes she shared, one in particular left a lasting impression: that of her high school prom. At the time, she had a boyfriend, and her mother Melinda French, asked Bill Gates to accompany their daughter and her date to the party. Everything seemed to be going well, until the billionaire took a short break... in a fast-food restaurant. An unlikely stop, but nothing too embarrassing at the time. The moment of solitude came when Bill Gates called his daughter's date... by the wrong name. ‘I literally wanted to die’, admitted Phoebe, still amused by the memory.
Bill Gates learned to live with the syndrome over time
Fortunately, over the years, Phoebe has learned to see these moments in a different light. Although she admits to feeling ashamed at the time, she has since taken a step back and even draws a certain philosophy from it. ‘Honestly, I think it's become easier for me now,’ she explained. For her, her father's attitude to her dating habits is even revealing:
Based on a father's reaction, that's how you know if he's going to be a good guy or not.
These little awkward moments, due to Asperger's syndrome, are an integral part of his approach to family life.
A close-knit family
Phoebe is the youngest of three children born to Bill Gates and Melinda French. Her older sister, Jennifer Katharine, 28, is a paediatric intern and mother of two-year-old Leila. Their brother, Rory John, 25, is studying for a doctorate and works as an analyst for a commission investigating the war in Afghanistan.
While each of them has gone their separate ways as adults, they remain closely bonded around their father, despite his emotional reserve and quirks. Speaking on a podcast as popular as Call Her Daddy, Phoebe shows in her own way that being Bill Gates' daughter doesn't necessarily mean living in a bubble, but learning to deal with a father who is out of the ordinary, sometimes confusing, often funny, always unique.
This article has been translated from Oh!MyMag FR.
Read more:
Jennifer, Rory and Phoebe Gates: What Bill Gates’ children are doing now
Bill Gates’ love life: Who has the billionaire dated over the years?
Bill Gates on his relationship with Paula Hurd: 'I'm lucky to have a serious girlfriend'
Source used:
YouTube: Call Her Daddy
