Phoebe Gates, daughter of Bill and Melinda Gates, and Arthur Donald, grandson of Sir Paul McCartney, are reportedly dating, adding a unique twist to their families’ prominent legacies in pop culture.
Phoebe Gates and Arthur Donald have sparked speculation about their relationship through social media posts and a red-carpet appearance.
Although Phoebe did not comment on their relationship when asked by Bustle in March 2024, she recently shared photos on Instagram after her graduation from Stanford University on June 15.
In these photos, Arthur Donald is seen carrying her barefoot and posing together in a sweet embrace, further fueling rumors about their romance.
Completing a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology in three years at Stanford University is quite an accomplishment for Phoebe Gates.
In the photo essay published with Nylon, she confirmed he was her man, writing,
“My boyfriend, Arthur, giving me a lift post-ceremony.”
In another snap, she wrote,
“With Arthur, he cleans up nicely.”
It’s unclear how long the couple has been dating, but Phoebe and he visited France in October 2023.
Meet Arthur Donald
Arthur Donald, the eldest grandson of Paul McCartney and Linda McCartney, was born on April 3, 1999, in England to their daughter Mary McCartney and her ex-husband, Alistair Donald.
He attended University College School in north London before pursuing history at Yale University in the United States.
Donald maintains a private Instagram account with a modest following of 681 followers.
Phoebe Gates has a connection to Arthur Donald’s family through her friendship with his aunt, designer Stella McCartney.
Their mothers, Melinda Gates and Stella McCartney, have been friends since Phoebe was young, establishing a longstanding bond between the families.
After begging her mom to meet her, she felt a connection.
“I feel like because she’s been able to use the platform she had, because of who her dad is, and then she took that and instead of being like, ‘oh, people define me by this,’ she took it and she was like, ‘OK, I have this immense privilege, now I’m going to use it to leverage something,’ and what she chose to leverage is to launch a brand that is completely sustainable,” Phoebe told in 2022.
It’s possible that Phoebe Gates and Arthur Donald met through their family connections and shared social circles, including events where Arthur accompanied his grandfather and aunt on the red carpet.
Their close relationship and mutual connections may have naturally led to their romance.
