Markets 
Bill Gates’ nepo baby is getting cyber spanked for allegedly “gaslighting” an influencer with a lowball proposition.
Billionairess on a “super limited” budget, Phobe Gates, 23, founder of AI shopping tool, Phia, is the internet’s enemy No. 1 after Kacie Margis, a content creator for hire, claimed she attempted to book her for a job with the company for less than her $250 rate.
Now, incensed social media savages are labeling the Microsoft princess — whose dad boasts a net worth of roughly $140 billion — a “cancer” and “grifting a—hole” for her presumed penny pinching.
“When a billionaire’s daughter says the budget is ‘super limited’ and it’s a ‘scrappy little startup’ to try to pay me less than what my posted rates are,” Margis, a model and lifestyle tastemaker from Orange County, Calif., ranted to Threads this week.
For proof, the bombshell shared a screenshot of an apparent Instagram direct message from Phoebe, sent in April 2025, minimizing the profitability of Phia. The New York-based brand, reportedly valued at approximately $180 million, features a price-comparison bot aimed at helping fashion fans score discounted deals on secondhand couture.
And it seems Phoebe is intent on saving a buck or two, herself.
“Hey love! I came across your profile on Collabster and I’m such a fan of your content. I’m the founder of @Phiaco — we’re launching at the end of this month (!!) and I’d be sooo honored if you’d be down to collab and help share,” reads the message, allegedly dispatched from Phoebe’s verified social media account.
“We’re still a scrappy startup so budget’s super limited, but we’d still work if you’re open,” continued the missive, in part. “Feel free to send your rates.”
But Margis refused to take the “send your rates” bait.
“She found me on a site called Collabstr, where brands can book creators,” the skeptical siren explained on Threads. “My rates are publicly listed on the platform, but instead of booking me there, she sent a private message trying to negotiate me down.”
And, unfortunately for Phoebe, online audiences agreed.
“INSANE that she didn’t want to pay you $250. We are done letting these billionaire grifting a- -holes off the hook. Proud of you for calling her out,” barked a commenter in support of Margis.
“Phoebe Gates also just flat out steals other startups ideas, IP, marketing, etc… on top of leveraging creators to work for free. She’s honestly a cancer in the sustainable fashion space,” wrote an equally irked critic.
“Her last post is her wearing Tiffany bracelets. Girl sell them to fund your ‘scrappy startup,’” another spat, punctuating their distain with the vomit emoji. “Her disrespectful to you, to women, to anyone building a company.”
“‘Hey love!’ gaslighting is next level,” noted another.
“Go to hell, Phoebe. You and your raggedy daddy,” a hater howled.
The avalanche of backlash comes amid Gates’, 70, explosive sex scandal tied to convicted pedophile Jeffery Epstein.
Phoebe has worked to distance her budding business from the chaos.
She admitted to refusing money from Gates to ensure that Phia has “no ties to my privilege or my last name,” during a recent appearance on Yahoo Finance’s “Opening Bid Unfiltered” podcast.
“I have a chip on my shoulder,” said Phoebe, describing her determination to succeed via merit, rather than inheritance or legacy. “The chip on my shoulder is not only proving myself but building something, you know, novel and unique that consumers actually love.”
The wannabe self-made mogul did, however, reveal her father’s biggest big biz advice, saying, “From my dad I’ve really learned that your team is the core of what you’re building.”
“You can’t do anything without an incredible team.”
Read the full article here
