Terrifying for the guy, for me ...: Bill Gates daughter Phoebe Gates on her experience of bringing men home to her Dad

Microsoft founder Bill Gates’ daughter Phoebe Gates recently offered a glimpse into her personal life. On a podcast show Phoebe talked about her father’s personality, including what it's like to introduce romantic interests to him. Speaking on the "Call Her Daddy" podcast, the 22-year-old shared candid anecdotes about her dad’s socially awkward demeanour and how it impacts her dating life.In the same podcast appearance, she also revealed that her father has Asperger's syndrome, a condition now considered part of the autism spectrum disorder (ASD). She described him as socially awkward.
Phoebe Gates: "Terrifying for the Guy, For Me..."During the podcast Phoebe Gates shared her perspective on what it's like to bring men home to meet her father. She described the experience "terrifying for the guy" but "hilarious" for her.
The host of the podcast, Alex Cooper inquired Phoebe Gates about her experiences introducing male partners to her father.She responded that it was "terrifying for the guy" but "hilarious" for her because her father is "pretty socially awkward" and has said he has Asperger's.
“For the guy, terrifying. For me, it’s hilarious because my dad’s pretty socially awkward. Like he’s said before, he has Asperger’s. So, like to me, it’s so funny,” said Phoebe.
She explained that her father, who has previously acknowledged being on the autism spectrum, often leaves her dates feeling uneasy.
Recalling a high school incident, Phoebe shared how her dad once drove her and her date to a school dance. During the 30-minute drive, Bill Gates insisted on listening to NPR and even called her date by the wrong name, leaving her mortified.
Phoebe now views these interactions as a way to gauge her relationships. "Depending on how he reacts, that’s how you know if he’s gonna be a good guy or not," she explained, adding that her dad’s quirks often serve as an unintentional test of character.
Beyond her family’s fame, Phoebe is carving her own identity. She recently co-founded Phia, an AI-powered shopping app, and is determined to establish herself outside her father’s shadow.