Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates' 3 Children: All About Jennifer, Rory and Phoebe

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo: Melinda Gates Instagram

Bill GatesandMelinda French Gatesare officially grandparents!

Their eldest child,Jennifer, 28, and her husband,Nayel Nassar,welcomed their first child, Leila, in February 2023. The couple’s second child,Mia, arrived in October 2024.

In a video interview, Bill shared thathe plans to “create an adventure” for his grandchildren.

“The relationship of a grandparent to a child is a nice one because it’s kind of in addition to what they have with their parents,” he said. “It’s kind of a supporting role, and in that way, it’s kind of simple. It can be a lot of fun stuff.”

Bill and Melinda, who divorced in 2021 after 27 years of marriage, are also parents to sonRory, 25, and daughterPhoebe, 22. A source told PEOPLE that the former coupleheld off on separatinguntil their children had all graduated high school. And though Bill and Melinda are no longer together, they have reunited at important events to support their kids, likeJennifer’s weddingin 2021.

Keep reading for everything to know about the Gates children.

Jennifer Gates, 28

Jennifer Gates Instagram

Jennifer Katharine Gates, Bill and Melinda’s oldest child, was born on April 26, 1996.

She has a master’s degree in public health fromColumbia Universityand a degree in human biology fromStanford University. In May 2024, she graduated fromIcahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinaibefore starting her pediatric residency at Mt. Sinai.

“What you have achieved today — and every day leading up to it — is a tremendous accomplishment, @jenngatesnassar,” Bill wrote on Instagram following his daughter’s graduation. “I’m so proud of you for finishing medical school, and I can’t wait to watch you take this next step into residency. Your patients will be lucky to call you doctor.”

In addition to being a doctor-in-training, Jennifer is aprofessional show jumperwho has been competing for years.

She married fellow equestrian Nayel Nassar in acustom Vera Wang dresson Oct. 16, 2021.Nassar proposedduring a ski trip in January 2020 and Jennifer shared the news on Instagram, calling her then-fiancé “one of a kind.”

Herparents reunitedat the wedding, which took place only a few months after their divorce. Both were pictured walking alongside their daughter and made separate social media posts to celebrate the milestone.

In March 2023, Jennifer and Nassar welcomed their first child — a daughter namedLeila. She was “promoted to big sister” when Jennifergave birth to daughter Miain October 2024.

Rory Gates, 25

Bill and Melinda’s son, Rory John Gates, was born on May 23, 1999.

Hegraduated from the University of Chicagoin June 2022, achieving “a double major and a master’s” in just four years. His family was there to support him on graduation day with his sister Jennifer posting a photo of the three Gates siblings on Instagram.

The month prior, Jenniferposted a photoof Rory and her dog Earl to mark both of their birthdays, calling the pair the “best pup and brother in the world.”

In honor of her son’s 18th birthday in 2017, Melinda wrote an essay forTIMEin which she described Rory as “compassionate and curious,” as well as “intelligent and well-read.”

She also stated that one of the traits she is most proud of is that he is a feminist. “Across 18 years of conversations, sharp observations and everyday actions, he’s demonstrated his belief that gender equality is something worth standing up for,” she wrote. “When we talk about these issues at the dinner table, he (and his friends!) have a lot to say.”

Phoebe Gates, 22

Michael Loccisano/Getty

Bill and Melinda welcomed their youngest child, Phoebe Adele Gates, on Sept. 14, 2002.

Phoebe graduated from high school in 2021, and on her graduation day, Jenniferdedicated a post to her sisteron Instagram, writing alongside a series of photos from over the years, “Pheebs- I can’t believe this day is here (time flies! 😅) but you are wise beyond your years, and so ready for this next incredible chapter in your journey. I love you, I am immensely proud of you and can’t wait for all that’s to come at Stanford ( !!! 🌲 🙌) and beyond.”

Since her parents announced their divorce, Phoebe has been seen out with her father, includingat the TIME100 Gala, where the father-daughter duo posed for photos together on the red carpet.

The youngest Gates child has also enjoyed some mother-daughter bonding with Melinda since the split, includinga date night in Londonin August 2022.

Phoebe is very outspoken when it comes to social and political issues. After the Supreme CourtoverturnedRoe v. Wadein 2022, she wrote an articleforVogueabout the global implications of the decision and shared information aboutPlanned Parenthoodon her Instagram.

Phoebe Gates Instagram

Phoebe is also very passionate about fashion. In September 2022, shecompleted an internship atBritish Vogueand expressed her gratitude for the experience on Instagram. “Thank you @britishvogue for giving me the internship of a lifetime. It was an honor to work with some of the best in the business and learn from you all,” she wrote alongside a series of photos from her time at the publication.

And it appears she may get some of her fashion inspiration from her mom. The following month,Phoebe channeled Melinda in a pink blazerand posted a photo of her mother wearing a very similar look. “Should I dress up as @melindafrenchgates for Halloween? y/n?” she captioned the Instagram post.

As for what she has in common with her father, Phoebe is an avid reader. In a 2018Instagram post, Bill wrote that the two of them love “reading all kinds of books,” noting that John Green was one of their favorite authors at the time. He quoted Phoebe as saying, “For years I have been a loyal John Green fan — devouring his novels in the back of coffee shops, while traveling, and curled up on my couch. Something about the imagery of his books makes me get caught up in the fantasy of his stories, butTurtles All the Way Downhit closer to home for me than the rest.”

In addition to a love of reading, Phoebe also enjoys posting on TikTok. Shespoke about her use of social mediaand the “misconceptions and conspiracy theories” that are posted about her family online in a March 2023 interview with The Information.

“People have a lot of preconceptions about me, so TikTok has been a chance for me to tell my own story and also use the attention my family name might bring to spotlight issues that are important to me, like women’s health and sustainable fashion,” she explained.

In September 2023,Phoebe turned 21— and her mom had some advice to pass along.

“You know yourself already. Don’t ever forget who you are,” Melinda said during a FaceTime chat with her daughter, adding that Phoebe should always keep her “most trusted advisors” close.

Bill also celebrated his daughter on Instagram.

“You’ll always be my little girl, but watching you do big things has never surprised me. I’m so proud of you,” he captioned two throwback photos with his youngest.

Phoebe celebrated another milestone whenshe graduated Stanford Universityin June 2024, and it took her just three years to complete her degree. Her mom, Melinda served as the commencement speaker at the ceremony.

In her graduation diary forNylon, Phoebe also shared a photo with boyfriend Arthur Donald, who IsPaul McCartney’s grandson.

Phoebe worked with her dad on Bill’s Netflix docuseriesWhat’s Next? The Future with Bill Gates, which begins streaming Sept. 18, 2024. Bill told PEOPLE that Phoebe had a lot to say on the show on the topic of misinformation, especially when it comes to conspiracy theories that involve her dad.

“It’sfun to see her energy,” he said.

source: people.com