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Phoebe Gates, 23, daughter of billionaire Bill Gates and co-founder of AI shopping startup Phia, has found herself at the center of an online controversy. The dispute arose when lifestyle influencer Casey Margis accused Phoebe of trying to hire her for a promotional campaign at a rate below her standard $250 fee.

The Incident

Margis, a model and blogger from Orange County, California, shared on Threads that she received a message from Phoebe via Instagram in April 2025: “Hi! I came across your profile on Collabstr and I’m a huge fan of your content. I’m the founder of @Phiaco — we’re launching at the end of this month (!!) and it would mean a lot if you’d collaborate with us and help promote our startup.”

“We’re still a small startup, so our budget is limited, but we’d love it if you were interested. Could you send your rates?”

Margis refused, saying her rates were already listed on Collabstr. However, Phoebe bypassed the platform, sending a personal message in an attempt to negotiate a lower fee.

Public Reaction

Social media users quickly rallied behind Margis, criticizing Phoebe for leveraging her family’s wealth while attempting to cut costs:

• “Unbelievable that she didn’t want to pay $250. Stop letting billionaires take advantage of people. Proud you called her out,” wrote one commenter.
• “Phoebe Gates also steals ideas and marketing from other startups, making creators work for free. She’s a cancer in the sustainable fashion world,” said another.
• “Go to hell, Phoebe. You and your old man,” added a third.

Phoebe’s Response

Phoebe has not directly addressed this specific incident. In a recent Yahoo Finance “Opening Bid Unfiltered” podcast, she explained that she refuses financial support from her father to keep Phia independent from her family name and privileges.

She also emphasized a key lesson from Bill Gates: “You can’t achieve anything without an incredible team.”

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