Phoebe Gates Graduates From Stanford — and Takes Us Inside The Party (Exclusive)

It’s no surprise that Phoebe Gates is something of an overachiever. On June 15th, the 21-year-old daughter of Bill and Melinda Gates graduated from Stanford University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Biology, after just three years at the school. Still, the decision to fast-track her degree came with a sentimental meaning behind it: “I knew I had to make it happen if I could, because I wanted to watch my mother deliver this year’s commencement speech as a graduate,” she tells NYLON. “I can’t think of a better ending!”

There is one other key reason, of course; Gates, along with close friend Sophia Kianni, has been hard at work to get their new venture, Phia, off the ground. Currently, the mysterious new project is being teased on Instagram as the “future of fashion.” Gates herself remains just as tight-lipped: “Phia is still under wraps, but my co-founder, Sophia and I are excited to roll it out this year, and are full-steam ahead with it,” she says. “For now you can follow along on our Instagram and TikTok, where we give our BTS.”

Gates did take a work break, naturally, to celebrate her big day with a graduation party that brought together her closest friends and family. “Having a minute to simply relax,” she says of her favorite part of the day. “It’s the end of one chapter, and beginning of another, and it was such a privilege to have this time with our family and friends to celebrate this.” Here, Gates take us inside the celebration.