When you're the offspring of one of the world's richest men, expectations are sky-high. Bill Gates, the 13th richest billionaire according to Forbes, has three children — Jennifer, Rory, and Phoebe.
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Bill and Melinda French Gates may have divorced after 27 years of marriage, but they remain forever connected through their children. Bill is now reportedly dating a serious partner, Paula Hurd, yet the bond over their kids continues to unite him and Melinda.
Now the kids may not be inheriting the bulk of Bill's immense fortune, but they've all already forged paths of their own.
Jennifer Gates
First up is Jennifer Gates, the eldest of the Gates children, born on 26 April 1996.
Jennifer has become a familiar face in the equestrian world, amassing over half a million followers on Instagram and establishing herself firmly in her own right. An alumnus of Stanford University with a degree in human biology, she later pursued a master's in public health at Columbia University.
Love entered Jennifer's life when she met fellow equestrian Nayel Nassar in January 2017. Their relationship blossomed, and Nassar proposed during a ski trip, leading to their wedding at their farm in Westchester County, New York, in October 2021.
Melinda and Bill Gates both celebrated the union warmly.
Jennifer and Nayel now have two children. Their first daughter, Leila, was born in March 2023, bringing immense joy to the family. Their second daughter, Mia, arrived in October 2024, coinciding with Jennifer and Nayel's third wedding anniversary.
Nayel, a co-creator of the equestrian app JUMPR, continues to excel professionally, while Jennifer enjoys balancing her thriving family life and her equestrian pursuits.
Rory Gates
Rory John Gates, born on 23 May 1999, leads a very private life, in stark contrast to the usual expectations of a billionaire's son. He demonstrated his academic brilliance early on, achieving a double major and a master's degree from the University of Chicago within just four years.
Growing up, Melinda allowed each child to choose their own surname during school, in an effort to maintain normalcy and Rory was the only child who opted to use his mother's maiden name, French, throughout his academic years.
Melinda French Gates has often praised Rory's character, describing him as 'compassionate and curious' and someone who stands firmly for gender equality.
The story behind Rory's name carries deep emotional weight. In her memoir The Next Day, Melinda recounts that she named Rory after her close friend John Neilson, who was dying of non-Hodgkin lymphoma around the time Rory was born.
She described feeling a poignant blend of 'anticipation and dread, joy and grief' during that period. She wrote in her book:
Any day now, my son would be entering the world. Any day now, my best friend would be leaving it. There was anticipation and dread, joy and grief.
On the day she saw John, she told him she loved him and that she ‘would be giving his name to my son.’
Melinda managed to introduce newborn Rory to John before he passed away, capturing a bittersweet moment that she treasures to this day.
Currently, Rory works as an analyst for the Afghanistan War Commission, maintaining a low profile and valuing intellectual pursuits over public fame.
Phoebe Gates
Phoebe Adele Gates, born on 14 September 2002, decided to keep her famous last name when she entered middle school.
Phoebe has been vocal about the 'internalised pressure' she feels due to her family's stature. During an interview with The New York Times, she confessed:
Growing up, I realized that people are always going to have thoughts about me.
If the business is successful, people will say, ‘It’s because of her family.’
And a huge portion of that is true. I never would have been able to go to Stanford, or have such an amazing upbringing, or feel the drive to do something, if it wasn’t for my parents. But I also feel a huge amount of internalized pressure.
She embarked on her academic journey at Stanford University before venturing into the business world.
In 2025, she co-founded Phia, a sustainable fashion platform, alongside her former roommate Sophia Kianni. To secure funding for Phia, Phoebe worked hard to obtain venture capital backing independently, rather than relying on her parents' wealth.
According to The Independent, Bill Gates initially feared that Phoebe would approach him for funding, admitting:
I thought, ‘Oh boy, she’s going to come and ask.'
However, he ultimately did not need to step in. Meanwhile, Melinda encouraged Phoebe to seek external investors, seeing it as 'a real opportunity for me to, like, learn and fail.'
Their podcast, The Burnouts with Phoebe and Sophia, launched in April 2025 with backing from Alex Cooper's podcast company.
Aside from her professional life, Phoebe has been dating Arthur Donald, grandson of Sir Paul McCartney. She quietly confirmed their relationship in 2024.
Read more:
Bill Gates’ love life: Who has the billionaire dated over the years?
Bill Gates: His daughter Phoebe will not let her wealth define her
Sources used:
People: Melinda French Gates Reveals Why She Allowed Her Children to Choose Their Last Name During School
Hello! Magazine: Meet Bill Gates' 'Billionaire' Children: Jennifer, Rory, and Phoebe
People: Who Is Bill Gates' Daughter Jennifer's Husband? All About Nayel Nassar
People: Melinda French Gates Shares the Sweet and Sad Story Behind Son Rory’s Name (Exclusive)
The Independent: Bill Gates' Daughter Phoebe Says She Feels 'Internalized Pressure' to Succeed Amid Nepo Baby Criticisms
