Bill Gates Family.Photo:Melinda French Gates/Instagram
Melinda French Gates/Instagram
Bill Gatesis getting into theFather’s Dayspirit.
The billionaire Microsoft co-founder, who sharesthree children— daughtersJennifer, 27, andPhoebe, 20, and sonRory, 24 — with ex-wifeMelinda French Gates, shared a tribute to his father, the late William H. Gates Sr., on the holiday.
Gates' father died in September 2020 at 94. When announcing his father’s death,Gates reflected on William’s influence on his drive to succeed.
“When I was a kid, he wasn’t prescriptive or domineering, and yet he never let me coast along at things I was good at, and he always pushed me to try things I hated or didn’t think I could do (swimming and soccer, for example),” Gates wrote at the time. “And he modeled an amazing work ethic. He was one of the hardest-working and most respected lawyers in Seattle, as well as a major civic leader in our region.”
Gates also shared Father’s Day messages from his daughters Jennifer and Phoebe in his Instagram Story. “Happy Father’s Day. Love you forever,” Phoebe wrote. “[And] a happy Father’s Day to you too,” Jennifer added.
Bill Gates/Instagram
“I can’t wait to watch you discover the world,” he wrote in aheartwarming Instagram postdedicated to his new granddaughter. Alongside the sweet message he also shared a photograph of himself cradling his granddaughter in his arms.
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Last year, Gates reflected on how becoming a grandfather had caused him to start “looking at the world through a new lens.”
“Simply typing that phrase, ‘I’ll become a grandfather next year,’ makes me emotional. And the thought gives a new dimension to my work,” he wrote in his annual year-end post on theGates Notes blog. “When I think about the world my grandchild will be born into, I’m more inspired than ever to help everyone’s children and grandchildren have a chance to survive and thrive.”
Earlier this year, Bill and Melinda reunited to celebrate Jennifer as shegraduated from Columbia University with her master’s degreein public health.
At the time, Jennifer shared a photo of herself on Instagram in hercap and gown smiling with her parentsand husband.
“(Accelerated) Master of Public Health 👩🎓🩵,” the graduate wrote. “Thank you @columbiapublichealth for this incredible educational opportunity and the village around me who made this possible. Grateful 🙏✨.”
Sharing a smiling father-daughter photo on his own Instagram page, Bill offered up his own congratulatory message. “I’m so proud of you, Jenn. You have grown and learned so much over the years,” he wrote. “I can’t wait to see what you accomplish next.”
source: people.com
