Bill Gates ex-wife reveals why she didn’t fund daughter's startup
Melinda French Gates explains her decision not to fund her daughter Phoebe's startup, citing a desire for her to succeed independently. This approach aligns with Bill Gates' philosophy of limiting inheritance to encourage self-reliance.
Why it matters
Highlights evolving perspectives on wealth transfer and the importance of merit-based entrepreneurship among high-net-worth families.
Bill Gates has said his children will inherit less than 1% of his wealth when he dies, and his ex-wife Melinda French Gates appears to be following a similar approach when it comes to helping their children build careers. In a 2025 interview, French Gates revealed that she deliberately stayed out of her daughter Phoebe Gates’ startup fundraising, even though she could have easily opened doors through her vast network. Instead, she watched from the sidelines as her daughter tried to raise money from investors. “She got capitalized not because of my contacts, not because of me. I wouldn’t put money into it,” French Gates said.
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