The 'College Thing' that Bill Gates didn't let his daughter Phoebe Gates do, despite being a poster boy of it himself

Bill Gates ’ youngest daughter Phoebe Gates recently revealed that her parents would not allow her to drop out of college like he did. Speaking on her new podcast ‘The Burnouts’, Phoebe said “They were very much like, you need to finish your degree. You don't just get to, like, drop out and do a company”, further adding “Which is so funny because my dad literally did that”.


Phoebe, for those unaware, completed her human biology degree at Stanford last June. She graduated early so that she could watch her mother, Melinda French Gates


"I knew I had to make it happen if I could, because I wanted to watch my mother deliver this year's commencement speech as a graduate," Phoebe said.


During the podcast, co-host Sophia Kianni pointed out that Phoebe grew up hearing stories about how her dad chased his dreams, took big risks, and faced failures before building Microsoft and changing the world.


To this, Phoebe laughed and said “It's funny to hear you say that because I literally never remember my dad talking about the start of Microsoft”.


“I mostly just remember him talking about the foundation. I remember even when we wanted to start the company, him being like, ‘Are you sure you want to do this?”.


Phoebe Gates launches Phia online shopping app
Last month, Phoebe launched her AI-powered shopping app called Phia in partnership with Kianni, who is a climate activist and also her Stanford roommate. According to a report by People, Phia is set to transform online shopping by comparing prices across over 40,000 retailers and secondhand platforms, ensuring users find the best deals effortlessly. The app’s innovative features, including the “Should I Buy This?” button and personalized preferences, aim to simplify shopping while promoting sustainability. With a vast database of 250 million secondhand items, Phia promises to combine smart shopping with eco-conscious choices.


The app uses AI to compare prices across 40,000+ retail and secondhand sites, offering instant insights on whether an item is fairly priced or overpriced. Users can tap the “Should I Buy This?” button on the Phia browser extension to receive price checks and suggestions for better-priced alternatives. The app is available on iOS and as a Chrome browser extension, catering to both mobile and desktop shoppers.