Why Melinda and Bill Gates Let Their Kids Choose Their Own Last Names
In a world where legacy and lineage are often treated like heirlooms, Melinda French Gates and Bill Gates decided to let their children decide their own last names—because apparently, even billionaires can’t escape the existential crisis of identity. In a recent Elle profile, Melinda revealed that their three kids—Phoebe, Jennifer, and Rory—were given the freedom to choose whether to carry the Gates surname or opt for something else. Jennifer, the eldest, embraced the Gates name, while Rory stuck with French throughout high school. Phoebe’s choice remains a mystery, but one can only imagine the pressure of being a Gates in a world that scrutinizes your every move.
Melinda’s reasoning? She wanted her children to be seen for who they are, not just as extensions of their parents’ fame and fortune. “I just tried to keep them in the real world and point things out to them as much as possible,” she said, as if raising kids with a combined net worth of over $100 billion could ever be considered “real world.” Still, credit where it’s due: the Gates family seems to have navigated the minefield of privilege with a surprising amount of self-awareness.
Of course, no discussion of the Gates family would be complete without revisiting the elephant in the room: their 2021 divorce. Melinda didn’t shy away from addressing the split, calling it painful but necessary. Bill, ever the optimist, later called the divorce his “biggest regret,” to which Melinda responded with an eye roll so sharp it could cut glass. “You’ve clearly Googled more than I have,” she quipped, proving that even in the aftermath of a high-profile breakup, her wit remains intact.
The Gates children aren’t the only ones redefining their identities. The article also highlights other celebrity kids who’ve ditched their famous last names, from Suri Cruise (now Suri Noelle) to Shiloh Jolie-Pitt (now just Shiloh Jolie). It’s almost as if growing up in the shadow of a globally recognized surname is more burden than blessing. Who could’ve guessed?
In the end, Melinda and Bill’s approach to parenting feels refreshingly modern, even if it’s wrapped in layers of privilege. Letting their kids choose their own names is a small but significant act of autonomy in a world that often tries to define you before you’ve even had a chance to introduce yourself.
And yet, one can’t help but wonder: if you had the Gates name, would you keep it or run for the hills?
Sources: Celebrity Storm and E! Online
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