Bill Gates daughter Phoebe reveals her dad has Asperger's syndrome as she lets it slip on Call Her Daddy podcast

The Sun

02-05-2025

BILL Gates' daughter has revealed her billionaire dad has Asperger's syndrome - a condition the Microsoft co-founder has never publicly confirmed himself.
Phoebe Gates, 22, made the offhand remark during the popular Call Her Daddy podcast while discussing what it's like bringing dates home to one of the world's most famous — and reportedly awkward — dads.
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In a comment that quickly raised eyebrows, Phoebe told host Alex Cooper: 'My dad is pretty socially awkward. He's said he, you know, has Asperger's.'
The disclosure marks the first time a member of Bill Gates' family has specifically named the condition.
While the tech giant, 69, has previously spoken about identifying with traits on the autism spectrum, he's never officially confirmed any diagnosis.
Listeners immediately latched onto the moment, sending the quote viral across social media.
'Not exactly surprising,' one user posted on X.
'There seems to be a lot of self-diagnosing going on here,' another wrote.
'Being high in trait disagreeableness, focused, highly intelligent does not necessarily mean one is 'on the spectrum.''
Phoebe made the remark while describing the challenges of dating under her father's watchful - and sometimes uncomfortable - gaze.
'Bringing a guy home is terrifying for the guy. It's also kind of hilarious for me,' she said, recalling how Gates once drove her and a boyfriend to a school dance while listening to NPR in silence.
'So uncomfortable but so funny.'
The Microsoft mogul and philanthropist has not responded publicly to the viral moment.
But in his 2023 memoir Source Code, Gates did write: 'I probably would've been diagnosed today, and that's not a bad thing — it's part of who I am.'
'I was a hyper-focused kid. I would get so lost in what I was doing, I'd forget to eat,' he shared.
In a February interview with Axios, Gates also opened up about feeling different growing up.
'I always knew I was different in ways that confused people in terms of my energy level and intensity, and going off and just studying things,' he said.
'It's a little confusing when you're a kid, that you're different, or people react to you in some ways, or your social skills — you're miscuing on various things.'
While Phoebe's comment may have been unintentional, it adds to the growing conversation around neurodiversity - especially among high-achieving people.
In recent years, more public figures, including Tesla mogul Elon Musk, have openly acknowledged being on the autism spectrum.
Phoebe, who has not commented further on the matter, also opened up about her relationship with boyfriend Arthur Donald, 26 — grandson of Beatles legend Sir Paul McCartney.
She joked about her lack of musical knowledge, recalling the time Donald trying to impress her by taking her to an Elton John concert.
'And Elton John comes out in like a bedazzled tracksuit. I'm like, 'Is Elton John gay?' His entire family starts dying laughing,' she said.
Even now, nearly two years into their relationship, she says the McCartney clan still rib her over the moment.
What is Asperger's syndrome?
ASPERGER'S syndrome, now part of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), is a developmental condition that affects how a person communicates and interacts with others.
People with Asperger's typically have average or above-average intelligence and strong verbal skills, but they may struggle with social cues, body language, and forming relationships.
They often develop deep interests in specific topics and prefer routines or predictable environments.
While they do not usually experience delays in language or cognitive development, they may engage in repetitive behaviors and find change difficult to manage.