Phoebe Gates, Daughter Of Bill Gates, Goes Public With Relationship With Paul McCartney’s Grandson

Phoebe Gates, the youngest daughter of billionaire Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and philanthropist Melinda French Gates, has confirmed her long-rumored relationship with Arthur Donald, the grandson of legendary Beatle Sir Paul McCartney.

The 21-year-old Stanford University graduate, who recently earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology in just three years, shared intimate details of her romance with Donald, 25, in a personal photo diary for Nylon magazine. Gates documented her graduation ceremony and captured a candid moment of her on Arthur’s back and one of the couple at her party in an embrace. 

“My boyfriend, Arthur, giving me a lift post-ceremony,” Gates captioned the image with the introduction to her new partner. In another photo, she praised Donald’s dapper appearance; “With Arthur, he cleans up nicely.”

The union of these two children from prominent families has sparked significant interest, as their respective lineages are deeply intertwined with the worlds of technology and music. Gates’s famous parents, Bill and Melinda, have long-standing connections to Donald’s aunt, renowned fashion designer Stella McCartney. 

Stella collaborated with Gates and her roommate Sophia Kianni on a capsule bag collection last year to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Open. This meeting ultimately led to a beneficial partnership. Gates and Kianni worked with Stella on a sustainable fashion line as a prelude to Gates’ upcoming digital fashion platform, Phia.

In an interview with Women’s Wear Daily, Gates revealed the close relationship between her mother and Stella and shared, “She and my mom are actually good friends. Even when I was little, she would send me stuff and little notes, and I’d be so excited. I’ve been asking my mom forever and ever if I could meet with her.”

Last year, Gates interracial relationship with a Stanford classmate sparked a lot of commentary on social media.

The romance between Gates and Donald has been the subject of speculation for months. Rumors of the couple first sparked in October 2023 when Gates shared a photo of them in front of the Eiffel Tower on social media. The duo also made a joint appearance at the premiere of FX’s Feud: Caputo vs. The Swans in New York City earlier this year.

However, in a previous interview with Bustle, Gates had declined to comment on the status of her relationship with Donald. Now, with her candid Nylon feature, the fashion entrepreneur has officially confirmed their relationship, much to the delight of their fans and followers.

Donald, the eldest son of photographer Mary McCartney and TV producer Alistair Donald, is no stranger to the public eye. The Yale University graduate with a history degree, has been romantically linked to Ava Phillippe in the past, the daughter of actors Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe. In an exclusive interview, Mary McCartney revealed details of the iconic creation of Abbey Road.

In September 2023, Gates appeared on the red carpet at the Kering Foundation’s Caring for Women Gala in New York City.