Bill Gates is worth around $155 billion, but his three kids won’t be inheriting all of it. The Microsoft co-founder recently shared that each of the children he shares with his ex-wife Melinda French—Jennifer, Rory, and Phoebe—will get less than 1% of his wealth. That still adds up to a mind-blowing $1.55 billion in total, but for Gates, the decision isn’t about the money.
In a recent podcast with Raj Shamani, Gates said he wants his kids, who "got a great upbringing and education," to have their own success, saying he decided it "wouldn't be a favor to them" to give them everything when he passes.
“It’s not a dynasty,” he said. “I’m not asking them to run Microsoft.” Instead, he’s focused on giving them a strong foundation and encouraging independence.
Gates said he made it clear to his kids early on his philosophy and his hopes of giving back to the neediest. “You don’t want your kids to ever be confused about your support for them and your love for them," he explained.
"So I do think explaining early on your philosophy: that you’re going to treat them all equally and that you’re gonna give them incredible opportunities, but that the highest calling for these resources is to go back to the neediest through the foundation,” the billionaire added.
Gates has been clear for years that most of his fortune will go to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. He’s also a founding member of the Giving Pledge, which encourages billionaires to donate the majority of their wealth to charity.
Melinda, who has a memoir on the way April 15, shares a similar outlook on life. Outside their foundation, with her organization, Pivotal Ventures, she's continuing her mission to empower women and girls, giving away billions in the process. "It takes courage forging a different life," she told PEOPLE. "When you change paths, you realize, oh, it's a big opening."
What his kids are up to
Bill and Melinda divorced when their kids were already adults in 2021, and they're all doing very well. His youngest, Phoebe, has opened up about how being a "nepo baby" affected her confidence in college, saying she felt pressure to prove herself despite her privilege. She’s now a Stanford grad and podcast host, and last year in January 2024, it was reported she was dating Sir Paul McCartney's grandson.
Jennifer, who is married to Nayel Nassar, graduated from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York in 2024 and is a Peds/Physician Scientist resident, all while being a mom of two. Rory is reportedly working as a congressional analyst while pursuing a doctorate.