Inside Rory Gates’ relationship with his mum, Melinda – the only son of Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates is a staunch feminist already going on philanthropic trips
- Melinda Gates often sings her son’s praises on Instagram, and told Time magazine that she’s ‘more optimistic than ever’ about the future Gen Z will build
- During a visit to see the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s work in Malawi, Melinda recalls his progressive comments about gender norms
The 22-year-old Gates man is known as a staunch feminist who has a close relationship with his mum, who often publicly sings his praises.
Here are just a few of the reasons Melinda is so proud of her son …
Melinda gave the world a peek into the enigma that is her son Rory in an Instagram post in 2017, writing: “When my son Rory was born, I spent a lot of time imagining what this little person would be like and who he would be as he grew up. Now, as we near his 18th birthday, I have my answer. Rory is compassionate and curious. He’s a great son and a caring brother. He’s inherited his parents’ obsessive love of puzzles. And one of the things that makes me proudest: Rory is a feminist. As he goes out into the world, I feel more optimistic than ever about the future his generation will build.”
In another interview, Melinda shared an endearing incident involving Rory when he was only 16. The anecdote made it evident that the only son of the richest philanthropists in the world does not adhere to stereotypes.
In 2017, she shared with Time magazine: “But there is one memory in particular that I hold in my heart. Two summers ago, Rory and I took a trip to East Africa – just the two of us – to see some of the work our foundation is doing in Malawi. While we were there, I met with a group of men who were working to shift gender norms in their community. They spoke with pride about how they were bucking tradition by sharing household chores with their wives, co-managing their finances and making big decisions together. They were also trying to persuade other men in their village to adopt the same approach in their own homes.”
