Jennifer Gates Says Dad Bill Helped Inspire Her to Become a Doctor as She Celebrates His Memoir: 'I’m Grateful'

Mar. 15, 2025

Jennifer Gates and Bill Gates.Photo:Paula Lobo/Getty

Paula Lobo/Getty

Bill Gates' daughtersJenniferandPhoebeare proud of their father’s latest accomplishment: the release of his debut memoir.Source Code, which hits shelves on Tuesday, Feb. 4, is the first installment of a planned trilogy and covers the billionaire philanthropist’s childhood in Seattle and young adulthood. Speaking with PEOPLE last month, Gates, 69, said that his kids were"glad to read" the book(and had “very nice” things to say)  — and now that it’s officially out, the praise is still coming in.In an Instagram Story post, his 28-year-old daughter Jennifer — whograduated medical schoollast year and is doing her residency atMt. Sinai on the Pediatrics Research pathway— said that her dad played a role in her decision to pursue a career in medicine.“A big part of why I’m a doctor is because my dad has always instilled this belief in me that scientific advancements — be they AI ultrasound or a vaccine for malaria — are going to make the world a better place,” she wrote.“I’m grateful to Dad for his optimism and I loved reading his book Source Code (out today!) on where it all began,” added Jennifer.Meanwhile, her 22-year-old sister Phoebe  — who is currentlyfocusing on the launchof her online fashion platform,Phia— shared a series of father-daughter photos on her own account.“Proud of this guy today,” she wrote, making sure to include a link to his newly-published memoir.(L-R) Bill Gates, Jennifer Gates and Phoebe Gates.Jennifer Gates/InstagramGates recently told PEOPLE that he first realized he wanted to create “some kind of autobiography” about five years ago, but was originally envisioning just one book. That all changed with the first draft.Some parts were “way too detailed,” others weren’t “detailed enough” and, the project didn’t start making sense until he settled on the idea of splitting his story into a series of books.With two more memoirs to go, Gates said he was “enjoyed the process a lot,” although he has worried at times about whether writing distracts him from his other work, particularly with his foundation.“As I am taking time off from working on HIV, malaria, polio and when I look at my calendar, it’s like, ‘Oh, that’s a little self-indulgent that I’m working on my memoir this week, and not telling those teams how to move forward a bit faster,’ ” he said. “But hopefully there’s enough that people can learn that it’s valuable.”Bill Gates with ‘Source Code.'.Ian Allen/Gates NotesNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Gates’ three children — daughters Jennifer and Phoebe as well as 25-year-old sonRory— all gotspecial shout-outsat the end of his memoir.“Being your father and watching you grow up has been the greatest joy of my life,” he wrote, adding, “As I wrote this book, I thought about how proud your grandparents and great-grandparents would be of the extraordinary people you’ve become.”

Bill Gates' daughtersJenniferandPhoebeare proud of their father’s latest accomplishment: the release of his debut memoir.

Source Code, which hits shelves on Tuesday, Feb. 4, is the first installment of a planned trilogy and covers the billionaire philanthropist’s childhood in Seattle and young adulthood. Speaking with PEOPLE last month, Gates, 69, said that his kids were"glad to read” the book(and had “very nice” things to say)  — and now that it’s officially out, the praise is still coming in.

In an Instagram Story post, his 28-year-old daughter Jennifer — whograduated medical schoollast year and is doing her residency atMt. Sinai on the Pediatrics Research pathway— said that her dad played a role in her decision to pursue a career in medicine.

“A big part of why I’m a doctor is because my dad has always instilled this belief in me that scientific advancements — be they AI ultrasound or a vaccine for malaria — are going to make the world a better place,” she wrote.

“I’m grateful to Dad for his optimism and I loved reading his book Source Code (out today!) on where it all began,” added Jennifer.

Meanwhile, her 22-year-old sister Phoebe  — who is currentlyfocusing on the launchof her online fashion platform,Phia— shared a series of father-daughter photos on her own account.

“Proud of this guy today,” she wrote, making sure to include a link to his newly-published memoir.

(L-R) Bill Gates, Jennifer Gates and Phoebe Gates.Jennifer Gates/Instagram

Jennifer Gates/Instagram

Gates recently told PEOPLE that he first realized he wanted to create “some kind of autobiography” about five years ago, but was originally envisioning just one book. That all changed with the first draft.

Some parts were “way too detailed,” others weren’t “detailed enough” and, the project didn’t start making sense until he settled on the idea of splitting his story into a series of books.

With two more memoirs to go, Gates said he was “enjoyed the process a lot,” although he has worried at times about whether writing distracts him from his other work, particularly with his foundation.

“As I am taking time off from working on HIV, malaria, polio and when I look at my calendar, it’s like, ‘Oh, that’s a little self-indulgent that I’m working on my memoir this week, and not telling those teams how to move forward a bit faster,’ ” he said. “But hopefully there’s enough that people can learn that it’s valuable.”

Bill Gates with ‘Source Code.'.Ian Allen/Gates Notes

Ian Allen/Gates Notes

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Gates’ three children — daughters Jennifer and Phoebe as well as 25-year-old sonRory— all gotspecial shout-outsat the end of his memoir.

“Being your father and watching you grow up has been the greatest joy of my life,” he wrote, adding, “As I wrote this book, I thought about how proud your grandparents and great-grandparents would be of the extraordinary people you’ve become.”

source: people.com