Melinda Gates, ex-wife of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates refuses to fund her daughter’s ventures. The longtime philanthropist, with a net worth of $31 billion, said she refused to fund her daughter’s startup.
“I have a daughter who just started a business this year,” said French Gates, 60, during a recent talk with tennis legend Billie Jean King during the Power of Women’s Sports Summit.
“She got capitalized, not because of my contacts, not because of me. I wouldn’t put money into it.”
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Melinda Gates is known to be a philanthropist, businesswoman, and global advocate for women and girls. Born on August 15, 1964, she earned a degree in computer science and economics from Duke University and began her career at Microsoft, where she helped develop multimedia products and eventually became General Manager of Information Products. In 1994, she married Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. Together, they co-founded the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2000, which has grown into one of the world’s largest private philanthropic organizations, focusing on global health, education, and poverty alleviation.
Reportedly, Melinda remained silent on which daughter she was referring to did not say which daughter, but Phoebe Gates, the youngest of her three children with the Microsoft founder, recently launched an AI-powered fashion app called Phia with her Stanford roommate, Sophia Kianni.
“It is very, very hard to get your business funded if you’re a woman,” French Gates said. “And so you do have to learn a bit how to have the courage to play the game and to stick with it.”
Following her 2021 divorce from Bill Gates, Melinda rebranded her philanthropic work through her investment and incubation company, Pivotal Ventures. This initiative focuses on advancing gender equality and empowering women in the U.S. across sectors such as technology, public policy, and leadership. Known for her commitment to data-driven solutions and inclusive progress, she has been a prominent voice in global development. Her 2019 book, The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World, underscores her belief that gender equity is essential for lasting change. Melinda Gates continues to influence philanthropy, policy, and innovation, using her platform to address systemic barriers and elevate underserved voices worldwide.
And though the daughter remained unnamed, Phoebe Gates, told The Post earlier this year that, “We don’t want this to be something that’s funded by my family – we want this to be a real company.”
“That’s really important for us … while I have a ton of privilege coming from my family, it’s about having a product that stands on its own.”
Melinda Gates’ decision not to fund her daughter’s startup highlights her belief in merit-based success and the importance of women earning opportunities independently. Despite her wealth and influence, she emphasized the value of building credibility without relying on privilege. This aligns with her broader mission of empowering women through Pivotal Ventures and advocating for gender equity. Her daughter’s shared commitment to independence reinforces the message that women can and should lead innovative ventures on their own terms. Together, their stance reflects a growing movement to reshape how success is defined and who gets to achieve it in today’s entrepreneurial world.