In a 2017 essay that Melinda wrote for Time, she described her son as “compassionate and curious”.

Rory appears to lead a low-key life with private social media accounts, an obsession with puzzles – and a close relationship with his mum.

How did Rory Gates and his sisters grow up?

Growing up, Bill and Melinda Gates gave their kids a 66,000-sq-ft dream house. Nicknamed Xanadu 2.0, the ultra-luxurious US$150 million lakefront mansion in Medina, Washington had just about every amenity you could imagine, including a trampoline room, a pool and its own artificial beach with sand flown in from the Caribbean islands.

Despite the luxurious lifestyle, Bill and Melinda made sure their three kids observed their set of rules: they didn’t get mobile phones until the age of 14 and had to wash the dishes every night. Even when they finally got their own mobile phones, they came with strict limitations – phones were forbidden at the dinner table and screen time was limited.

“We often set a time after which there is no screen time, and in their case, that helps them get to sleep at a reasonable hour,” Bill told The Mirror in 2017. “You’re always looking at how it can be used in a great way – homework and staying in touch with friends – and also where it has gotten to excess.”

The billionaire also noted that his philanthropy centres on reducing global inequality – a cause Rory has reportedly picked up from his parents.

How was Rory Gates educated?

Rory attended the elite private/independent school Lakeside School in Seattle, Washington, like his dad, and then pursued a bachelor’s degree in computer software engineering and economics at Duke University, like his mother. His educational journey then took him to Fuqua School of Business, where he got his MBA degree, following exactly in his mother’s educational footsteps.

Melinda describes her time at Duke University as “some of the best years of my life” and even gave the university a US$20 million in 1998 for a “pioneering academic programme expanding teaching and research across traditional disciplinary boundaries”. Bill and Melinda also donated US$10 million in 2008 to “support scholarships for undergraduates and business school student”, according to the Gates Foundation website.

In her personal essay for Time, Melinda spoke about raising Rory as a feminist, saying he doesn’t shy away from discussing gender equality.

“My son told me he thinks that standing up to unfair norms is nothing more than exactly what men everywhere should be doing. Yes, he recognises that the more entrenched the norms, the more courage it takes to confront them. But he also believes that it’s a universal responsibility and one that he’s already striving to uphold in his own life,” wrote Melinda in the essay.

What was Rory Gates’ life at the University of Chicago like?

According to The Chicago Tribune, Bill and Melinda bought a US$1.25 million five-bedroom house in Chicago’s South Side Hyde Park neighbourhood in 2018. At 3,000 sq ft, the property is several square feet shy of Rory’s childhood home. It features a brick facade, two terraces and a detached three-and-a-half-car garage.

What is Rory Gates doing now?

Only time will tell if Rory gets millions or billions.

Additional reporting by Sumnima Kandangwa and Business Insider