Jennifer Katharine Gates
Jennifer Katharine Gates
Jennifer Katharine Gates (born April 26, 1996) is an accomplished and endowned equestrian and the eldest daughter of Billionaire businessman Bill Gates and his wife Melinda Gates. She got engaged to fellow equestrian, Nayel Nassar in January 2020.
Education
Gates graduated from Stanford University in 2018 with a degree in human Biology and took a Year off to focus on her equestrian passion. She is currently attending Mount Sinai's Icahn School of Medicine in New York City.
Previously, she attended Seattle's private Lakeside High School.
Equestrian Career
Gates is an accomplished equestrian and has been riding since she was six years old.
One of her favorite horses is named Alex.
"He is super sweet, down-to-earth, easy-going, but you can also go fast and have a lot of confidence, so I am really excited about him," she told US Equestrian in November 2017.
To support her passion, Gates' Father set about buying property in Wellington, Florida, a hotspot for wealthy equestrians. The Miami Herald reported he dropped $37 million to buy a whole string of properties near Laurene Powell Jobs' estate.
Gates has competed against Eve Jobs, as well as other famous Show jumpers like Michael Bloomberg's daughter Georgina, Bruce Springsteen's daughter Jessica, and Steven Spielberg's daughter Destry.
Gates is a rider for "Paris Panthers", a show jumping team founded by Gates, who also manages the team.
In 2019, she competed and placed ninth in the Global Champions League.
Gate is the President of Evergate Stables and one of the top Under 25 show jumping athletes in the US .
Personal Life
Gates wasn't allowed to own a phone until she was 14.
Relationship with Nayel Nassar
On January 29, 2020, announced her engagement to equestrian Nayel Nassar on Instagram, sharing a photo of her reaction after her fiancé proposed during their snowy ski trip. In the picture, a visibly surprised Jennifer can be seen wearing a large diamond ring as she leans against Nassar in a snowbank. She captioned the sweet shot in the following way:
“Nayel Nassar, you are one of a kind.
Absolutely swept me off my feet this past weekend, surprising me in the most meaningful location over one of our many shared passions.
I can’t wait to spend the rest of our lives learning, growing, laughing and loving together.
Yes a million times over.”
Nassar also posted photos of the proposal on his own Instagram account, writing, “SHE SAID YES!!” He captioned his picture in the following way:
“I’m feeling like the luckiest (and happiest) man in the world right about now.
Jenn, you are everything I could have possibly imagined..and so much more.
I can’t wait to keep growing together through this journey called life, and I simply can’t imagine mine without you anymore.
Love you more than you can possibly imagine, and thank you for making every single day feel like a dream to me.
Here’s to forever!”
Jennifer replied to the touching note in the comments, “Yep crying again its fine life is perfect rn you’re everything to me.”
The couple received many congratulatory wishes from their friends and family, including Jennifer’s proud parents.
“So thrilled for you and @nayelnassar!
❤,” wrote mom Melinda Gates, who also shared the sweet proposal photo on her Instagram Stories.
“I am completely thrilled!
Congratulations, @jenniferkgates and @nayelnassar!” added her father Bill Gates in the comments section.
A week before, Jennifer paid tribute to Nassar in a heartwarming birthday post:
“Happy birthday @nayelnassar, can’t begin to put into words how extraordinary you are.
The most compassionate, intelligent, hilarious, supportive, warm, humble human being.
Wishing you all the joy in the world today and all the years to come.”