Advertisement

All About Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates' 3 Children

Bill Gates, Melinda Gates family
Bill Gates, Melinda Gates family

Melinda Gates Instagram

Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates are officially grandparents!

Their eldest child, Jennifer, 26, and her husband Nayel Nassar announced that they welcomed their first baby in a joint Instagram post on March 5, 2023. The pair shared a photo of their baby's little feet along with the caption: "Sending love from our healthy little family 💓🙏🥰."

Bill and Melinda, who divorced in 2021 after 27 years of marriage, are also parents to son Rory, 23, and daughter Phoebe, 20. All three Gates kids are now adults, and a source told PEOPLE that the former couple held off on separating until 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, like Jennifer's wedding in 2021.

While Bill is one of the richest people on the planet, ranked fourth in the world by Forbes in 2022, he's spoken candidly about how he won't be passing on all of his wealth to his children. He has said that leaving his fortune to them would be a "mistake," and that he plans to give most of it to charity — including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Still, neither parent shies away from posting about their children on social media, whether they're celebrating milestones or looking back on memories. On Thanksgiving 2021, Melinda shared an old photo of herself and all three children on Instagram, writing in the caption that she was reflecting on "holidays past with these three turkeys." In April 2022, Bill shared a photo of himself dancing with Jennifer at her wedding to mark her 26th birthday.

Keep reading for everything to know about the Gates children.

Jennifer Gates, 26

Jennifer Gates
Jennifer Gates

Jennifer Gates Instagram

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

Currently an MD candidate at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, Jennifer previously studied human biology at Stanford University.

The medical student describes herself as an "equestrian, newlywed, bookworm" on Instagram, on which she has over half a million followers. She is a professional show jumper who has been competing for years.

Jennifer married fellow equestrian Nassar in a custom Vera Wang dress on Oct. 16, 2021. Nassar proposed during a ski trip in January 2020 and Jennifer shared the news on Instagram, calling her then-fiancé "one of a kind."

Her parents reunited at 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.

Since the Gates' divorce news was announced, Jennifer has spoken about her parent's split, sharing a statement on her Instagram Story on May 2021. She asked for privacy during the "challenging" time for her family.

Just over a year after Jennifer and Nayel tied the knot, the couple shared that they were expecting a baby. Jennifer announced her pregnancy on Thanksgiving, writing, "Thankful. 💚🍼," alongside two photos of her growing baby bump.

"I couldn't be more excited to meet this little one and watch you two become parents," Melinda commented on her daughter's post. Jennifer's baby will be Bill and Melinda's first grandchild.

On March 5, 2023, Jennifer and Nassar announced that they had welcomed their baby in a joint Instagram post. They shared a cute picture of the two holding their daughter, which showed off her little feet. "Sending love from our healthy little family 💓🙏🥰," they wrote in the caption.

Rory Gates, 23

Jennifer Gates, Rory Gates, and Phoebe Gates
Jennifer Gates, Rory Gates, and Phoebe Gates

Jennifer Gates Instagram

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

He graduated from the University of Chicago in 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, Jennifer posted a photo of 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 for TIME in 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, 20

Phoebe Gates attends the 2022 Time100 Gala at Frederick P. Rose Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center on June 08, 2022 in New York City
Phoebe Gates attends the 2022 Time100 Gala at Frederick P. Rose Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center on June 08, 2022 in New York City

Michael Loccisano/Getty

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

She's currently studying at Stanford University after graduating from high school in 2021. On Phoebe's graduation day, Jennifer dedicated a post to her sister on 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, including at 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, including a date night in London in August 2022.

Phoebe is very outspoken when it comes to social and political issues. After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, she wrote an article for Vogue about the global implications of the decision and shared information about Planned Parenthood on her Instagram.

Bill and Phoebe Gates
Bill and Phoebe Gates

Phoebe Gates Instagram

The Stanford student is also very passionate about fashion. In September 2022, she completed an internship at British Vogue and 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 blazer and 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 2018 Instagram 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, but Turtles All the Way Down hit closer to home for me than the rest."

In addition to a love of reading, Phoebe also enjoys posting on TikTok. She spoke about her use of social media and 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.