Phoebe Gates, the 23-year-old daughter of billionaire Bill Gates, is facing a wave of online criticism after an influencer accused her of attempting to secure a collaboration for a fraction of the usual price.
Content creator Kacie Margis claims that Phoebe—who is behind the AI-powered shopping platform Phia—approached her with an offer reportedly under $250, far below her standard rates, despite coming from one of the world’s wealthiest families.
The controversy began when Margis shared her experience on social media platform Threads, writing: “When a billionaire’s daughter tells you her budget is ‘extremely limited’ and calls her company a ‘modest startup’—just to try and pay you less than your publicly listed rates.”
As alleged proof, Margis posted a screenshot of a message she says Phoebe sent via Instagram. In the message, the sender—claimed to be Phoebe—describes Phia as a small startup with a tight budget, even though reports estimate the company’s value at around $180 million. The New York-based platform helps users find better deals on high-end fashion, particularly in the resale market.
In the message, the sender writes:
“Hey! I found you on Collabstr and I’m a big fan of your content. I’m the founder of @Phiaco, we’re launching at the end of this month (!!), and it would be an honor if you’d collaborate with us and help promote.”
It continues:
“We’re still a modest startup, so our budget is extremely limited, but we’d love to work together if you’re open. Could you send me your rates?”
Margis says she declined the offer, noting that her rates are clearly listed on Collabstr—a platform used by brands to hire creators. According to her, instead of booking her through the platform at the stated price, Phoebe reached out privately in an attempt to negotiate a lower fee.
The post quickly sparked backlash online, with many users accusing Phoebe Gates of unethical behavior and trying to undervalue creators’ work. Some labeled her actions as “exploitative,” while others criticized the irony of someone with vast financial resources negotiating such a low payment.
In a recent appearance on Yahoo Finance’s Opening Bid Unfiltered podcast, Phoebe stated that she deliberately chose not to accept funding from her father in order to prove herself independently.
“I have to prove myself,” she said, emphasizing her desire to succeed based on merit rather than privilege. “That means building something new and unique that people truly love.”
Still, the online debate continues, raising broader questions about influencer marketing, fair pay, and expectations—even when billionaires’ families are involved.