Additional Coverage:
- Billionaire Melinda French Gates says she wanted her kids ‘to know they were lucky’ (businessinsider.com)
Melinda French Gates, philanthropist and ex-wife of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, recently shared her strategies for raising grounded children despite their immense wealth. In interviews promoting her new book, “The Next Day: Transitions, Change, and Moving Forward,” French Gates emphasized the importance of instilling strong values in her three children, Jennifer, Rory, and Phoebe.
Recognizing the potential for their privileged lifestyle to create a disconnect from reality, French Gates took deliberate steps to ensure her children understood their fortunate position. She enrolled them in local schools, encouraging community involvement and a sense of normalcy. While the search for the “right” school involved some transitions, French Gates believed the experience was ultimately beneficial.
Beyond local schooling, French Gates prioritized exposing her children to diverse experiences both at home and abroad. This included community service work, such as assisting the homeless and serving food in shelters.
French Gates recounted her younger daughter Phoebe’s experience living with a local family in Rwanda for several summers during middle and high school. These experiences, she explained, broadened her children’s perspectives and fostered an appreciation for their own privilege.
In addition to community engagement, French Gates implemented practical measures like chores and allowances to maintain a sense of responsibility. She also emphasized the importance of surrounding her children with staff who shared her values. French Gates believes that these combined efforts helped her children develop a strong sense of self and an understanding of their place in the world.
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- Billionaire Melinda French Gates says she wanted her kids ‘to know they were lucky’ (businessinsider.com)