Who is Phoebe Gates? Bill Gates' Daughter Who Revealed He Has Asperger Syndrome
In 2024, Phoebe Gates earned a degree in Human Biology from Stanford University (Instagram/phoebegates).
Phoebe Gates, the youngest daughter of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and philanthropist Melinda French Gates, is making headlines after a candid revelation about her father's health. Reported the New York Post, Bill Gates' 22-year-old daughter Phoebe Gates revealed in a podcast that her father has Asperger syndrome. In a recent episode of the popular podcast Call Her Daddy, hosted by Alex Cooper, Phoebe shared that Bill Gates has Asperger syndrome—a disclosure that has sparked widespread interest and conversation.
Phoebe Gates: More Than Just a Billionaire's Daughter
At 22, Phoebe Gates has emerged as a powerful voice in women’s health advocacy and tech-empowered entrepreneurship. A 2024 graduate of Stanford University with a degree in Human Biology, she has consistently focused on using her platform to promote reproductive freedom and gender equality.
According to her LinkedIn profile, she is not only an entrepreneur but also a public speaker and policy influencer. Her efforts were recently recognized when she was named the 2024 "Rising Reproductive Freedom Champion" by the nonprofit Reproductive Freedom for All (RFFA).
The Viral Revelation: Asperger Syndrome and Bill Gates
During the Call Her Daddy podcast interview, Phoebe opened up about how her boyfriends react when meeting her famous father. With humor, she described those moments as “terrifying for the guy, hilarious for me,” and added, “My dad’s pretty socially awkward. Like he’s said before, he has Asperger’s.”
Though Bill Gates, 69, has never publicly stated that he has been formally diagnosed with Asperger syndrome, he has spoken in the past about possibly being on the autism spectrum. In his 2025 memoir Source Code, he wrote:
“If I were growing up today, I probably would be diagnosed on the autism spectrum... My parents had no guideposts or textbooks to help them grasp why their son became so obsessed with certain projects, missed social cues, and could be rude and inappropriate without seeming to notice.”
This revelation has reignited conversations about Asperger syndrome and the autism spectrum, raising awareness while also humanizing one of the world’s most successful tech entrepreneurs.
What is Asperger Syndrome?
According to the United States’ National Centre for Biotechnology Information, Asperger syndrome is a developmental disorder that falls under the autism spectrum. It typically involves challenges with social interaction and nonverbal communication, alongside restricted or repetitive patterns of behavior and interests. Individuals with Asperger’s often have average or above-average intelligence and no significant language delays.
Digital Influence: Phoebe Gates and Social Media
Phoebe Gates is not just known for her advocacy work—she’s also a fashion-forward influencer. With over 500,000 followers on Instagram, she frequently uses her platform to raise awareness about social justice issues and reproductive rights. A New York Times feature once described her as "the youngest and most stylish of Bill and Melinda Gates’s children."
She also interned at British Vogue and co-founded a digital fashion platform called Phia, alongside Stanford classmate and climate activist Sophia Kianni. Their platform focuses on merging sustainable fashion with digital innovation.
Career and Advocacy
Phoebe’s public statements and career moves consistently align with her vision of equity and empowerment. Her work with reproductive rights organizations, particularly after the reversal of Roe v. Wade in the U.S., showcases her commitment to being a leader of her generation.
"With the fundamental belief that the freedom to make decisions about one’s personal health unlocks everything — educational, financial, and family opportunity — she works in pursuit of being a catalyst for change," states her bio on LinkedIn.
Public Response and Conversations
Following the podcast episode, social media exploded with reactions. Many praised Phoebe for her openness and applauded her for speaking about neurodivergence with empathy and honesty. Autism advocacy groups also highlighted her comments as a step forward in breaking stigma around Asperger syndrome and other developmental disorders.
Google Trends showed a spike in searches for “Phoebe Gates Asperger podcast,” “Bill Gates Asperger,” and “Phoebe Gates Call Her Daddy episode,” shortly after the episode aired—indicating a significant public interest in both her personal story and broader conversations around neurodiversity.
Final Thoughts
Phoebe Gates is stepping into the public eye not only as a Gates family member but as a changemaker in her own right. With her recent revelation about her father's health and her growing influence across multiple platforms, she’s quickly becoming one of Gen Z’s most prominent voices.
As her story continues to unfold, she is poised to inspire conversations on social justice, health, and the intersection of technology and fashion.
