Recently, Bill Gates surprised many people when he appeared in the role of… a customer service employee at the company of his youngest daughter – Phoebe Adele Gates. Bill Gates’ daughter – is gradually stepping out of the shadow of her father, one of the richest men in the world, in her own way: founding a technology startup, being financially independent and determined not to rely on her father’s hundreds of billions of dollars in assets.

Youngest daughter Phoebe Adele Gates and her billionaire father Bill Gates. Photo Indiatimes.

From billionaire’s daughter to female tech startup founder

Phoebe Gates, born in 2002 in Seattle, is the daughter of Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates. Unlike other “rich kids”, Phoebe chooses a private lifestyle, focusing on education and self-development.

She recently graduated with a degree in Human Biology from Stanford University – the school her father dropped out of to pursue Microsoft. However, according to Phoebe herself, dropping out of school was “out of the question” in the Gates family.

“Even though my dad dropped out of college, he always insisted that my siblings and I get an education. That was an unbreakable rule,” she shared in a recent podcast.

Startups with artificial intelligence and sustainable fashion

Currently, Phoebe is the co-founder of Phia, an AI-powered fashion platform that helps users compare prices and search for outfits by style, material and price from over 40,000 global fashion websites.

Phia’s goal is to create a “smart, economical and sustainable” platform where technology serves conscious consumption. This is not only a technology startup but also reflects the environmental and gender equality mindset that Phoebe pursues.

She is also the host of the podcast The Burnout, where she and friends and experts talk about stress, passion, youth and careers.

Not receiving most of the assets from father, independent from the beginning

Despite being the daughter of one of the richest people on the planet, Phoebe has repeatedly stated that she will not rely on her parents’ fortune.

Bill Gates also publicly announced that he would leave less than 1% of his fortune to each of his children, with the majority being donated to the Gates Foundation.

“I believe my children should be independent, not living off the wealth I create,” Gates said in an interview.

Bill Gates “works for hire” for his daughter – a day as a switchboard operator

Recently, Bill Gates surprised many people when he appeared as a… customer service employee at his daughter’s company.

In a viral video, the billionaire, wearing headphones, sits at Phia’s customer support center, directly answering questions and troubleshooting problems for users.

“When my daughter asked me if I could do a CS shift, all I could say was, ‘Of course. I hope I don’t break anything!’” Gates shared humorously.

While he doesn’t directly invest capital in his daughter’s startup, he supports it by serving as a strategic advisor, mentor, and – sometimes – an actual employee.

Phoebe Gates – a model of “new rich kid”

In a world where many “rich kids” are famous for flaunting luxury brands and partying, Phoebe Gates chose a different path: studying well, starting a business with passion, working hard and building a career on her own.

She represents a new generation of heirs – not living in the shadow of their parents, but making their own mark with intelligence, independence and responsibility to the community.