By Eshita Bhargava

Copyright timesnownews

Phoebe Adele Gates, born in 2002, isn’t just “Bill Gates’ daughter.” She carries her own ambitions, her own identity, and a growing reputation in fashion tech, sustainability, advocacy, and public speaking. While her pedigree opens doors, she seems determined to show she can walk through them on her own terms. By the way, as of 2024 she graduated from Stanford University with a degree in Human Biology. This article explores how she built her startup, her stance on wealth and identity, what her business does, and what people are saying. (Spoiler: there’s more substance than style here.) From Privilege to Purpose: The Startup Phia In early 2023, Phoebe co-founded Phia with her former Stanford roommate, Sophia Kianni. Phia is a shopping-tech platform (app + browser extension) that helps users compare new and used fashion items, and decide whether a given price is fair. It also suggests alternatives when it’s not. The aim is sustainability + transparency: less waste, more informed consumers. It tries to empower shoppers rather than simply push products. Funding, Family, and Independence Phoebe’s path has been unusual because although she comes from one of the richest families in the world, she chose not to lean on that safety net for her startup. Her mother, Melinda French Gates, made clear she wouldn’t fund Phia. She believes Phoebe needs to feel the sting of rejection. Her father, Bill Gates, said he would have helped financially, but also expressed that doing so might complicate their relationship (oversight, expectations). Luckily, Phoebe raised capital on her own. Initial fundraising included a grant via Stanford, funds from angel investors and venture capital. She faced rejections before getting enough backing. The “Nepo Baby” Question and Real Identity She’s not shy about confronting the “nepo baby” label (i.e. someone seen to benefit purely from family wealth). In interviews and via her podcast The Burnouts, she’s spoken about the pressure to prove worth, to avoid being dismissed as just privileged. Her parents seem supportive in letting her make her own mistakes and find her own way, rather than writing her startup checks. What’s Known — and What’s Speculation Net worth: There are some reports claiming Phoebe’s net worth is about US$20 million. But this appears to come from sources that don’t have publicly verified data. Some other outlets say it’s not officially estimated yet, and that her main value lies in her stake in Phia, her public influence, and early-stage investments. Luxury accessories claims: There’s a piece circulating that she owns a US$40,000 Cartier Panthère watch. That article asserts this as fact. But I couldn’t find corroboration in more than one reliable source. Treat that with caution. Fun Facts & Smaller Details – She majored in Human Biology at Stanford. – Phia’s tool “Should I Buy This?” is meant to help users judge if a price is low, typical or overpriced. – She co-hosts The Burnouts, a podcast exploring startup life, identity, and entrepreneurial lessons. Why She Matters Phoebe Gates represents a new kind of legacy. Rather than resting on family prestige, she tries to build something functional, ethical and modern. Her choices (about funding, about identity) are signals: she values authenticity, critique, and community. For anyone wondering, she’s not just “someone born rich.” She shows what it looks like when someone born privileged still works to validate their own voice — and lets failure be a possibility. We don’t (yet) have all the pieces: exact net worth figures, details about profits from Phia, or how big the user base is. But that’s ok — the story of Phoebe Gates is less about numbers and more about navigating expectations, privilege, and creativity in a hyperconnected world.