Bill Gates, Phoebe Gates, Melinda French Gates.Photo:BlayzenPhotos / BACKGRID
BlayzenPhotos / BACKGRID
A true family celebration.
Bill GatesandMelinda French Gatesreunited to celebrate their youngest daughterPhoebe’s 21st birthday in New York City on Thursday night.
While stepping out for the festive evening, Melinda, 59, wore a casual dress while the Microsoft co-founder, 67, opted for a brown collared sweater and slacks. Phoebe, who has been seen wearing anarray of glamorous outfitsduringNew York Fashion Week, donned a pink mini dress with heels and wore her hair slicked back into a high ponytail.
Phoebe Gates.BlayzenPhotos / BACKGRID
Earlier in the day, the proud parents also shared tributes in honor of their youngest’s big day.
“Happy birthday, @phoebegates!You’ll always be my little girl, but watching you do big things has never surprised me,” Bill wrote on Instagram alongside a series of throwback father-daughter shots.
Meanwhile, in a FaceTime callshared on Instagram, Melinda gave her daughter advice for her 21st year. She told Phoebe to remember that she knows herself “a lot” and to not “ever forget who you are.”
“I love you so so much,” the philanthropist and global advocate added.
Melinda French Gates.BlayzenPhotos / BACKGRID
Phoebe’s milestone birthday capped a seemingly fun week for the mother and daughter.
In a"fashion week wrap up"Instagram post shared on Wednesday, Phoebe highlighted some behind-the-scenes moments from her chic week—including a shot of her and her mom.
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Melinda French Gates and Phoebe Gates.James Devaney/GC Images
James Devaney/GC Images
Sincefinalizing their divorcein August 2021, Bill and Melinda have also continued to work together through theBill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which they started in 2000.
The billionaire philanthropists, whofinalized their divorcein August 2021 after 27 years of marriage, haverepeatedly spokenabout theircontinued working relationship.
“The foundation, I’m deeply and continue to be committed to. That is my global platform,” Melinda said during an interview withBloomberglast year.
Since splitting, Melinda has spoken about"definitely" being open to dating again—and previouslysparked romance rumors with Jon Du Pre, a former reporter who worked as a correspondent for Fox News in the ’90s and early 2000s.
Meanwhile, Bill has been datingPaula Hurd,widow of Mark Hurd, the CEO of software company Oracle and the one-time boss of Hewlett-Packard, who died in 2019.
Last month, the couple toastedJeff BezosandLauren Sánchez’sengagement at a partyon the Amazon founder’s $550 million yacht on Italy’s Amalfi Coast.
Before their appearance at the party, the Microsoft co-founder and Hurd made an appearance together during the Men’s final at the Australian Open in January. An insider told PEOPLE at the time that “it’swidely known that Bill Gates and Paula Hurd are dating.”
source: people.com
