• Jennifer Gates and Egyptian-American showjumper Nayel Nassar have been together since 2018. Instagram / jenniferkgates
    Jennifer Gates and Egyptian-American showjumper Nayel Nassar have been together since 2018. Instagram / jenniferkgates
  • The couple got engaged during a skiing holiday in January 2020. Instagram / Jennifer Gates
    The couple got engaged during a skiing holiday in January 2020. Instagram / Jennifer Gates
  • Jennifer Gates and Nayel Nassar have celebrated their engagement with a Florida party. Instagram / jenniferkgates
    Jennifer Gates and Nayel Nassar have celebrated their engagement with a Florida party. Instagram / jenniferkgates
  • The couple got married on October 16, 2021. Reuters
    The couple got married on October 16, 2021. Reuters
  • Nassar has carved out a successful career in showjumping. Abacapress.com/Reuters
    Nassar has carved out a successful career in showjumping. Abacapress.com/Reuters
  • The pair are keen equestrians. Europa Press Entertainment/Europa Press via Getty Images
    The pair are keen equestrians. Europa Press Entertainment/Europa Press via Getty Images
  • Nassar was born in Chicago, but grew up in Kuwait. In 2009, he moved back to California. Getty Images
    Nassar was born in Chicago, but grew up in Kuwait. In 2009, he moved back to California. Getty Images
  • Nassar represents Egypt at international equestrian events. Getty Images
    Nassar represents Egypt at international equestrian events. Getty Images

Jennifer Gates announces pregnancy with Egyptian husband Nayel Nassar


Katy Gillett
  • English
  • Arabic

Jennifer Gates has announced she and husband Nayel Nassar are expecting a baby.

The daughter of Microsoft founder Bill Gates and his ex-wife Melinda, who married the Egyptian equestrian last year, posted the announcement to Instagram on Thursday.

"Thankful," she wrote next to green heart and baby bottle emojis, alongside a photograph of herself, with Nassar, cradling her pregnancy bump. In the autumnal image, Nassar is leaning casually against a wall, as Gates leans her head on his shoulder while wearing a floor-length green dress, with leaves falling around them.

She also shared a close-up image of herself, cradling the bump and smiling down at it.

Her mother, Melinda, wrote in the comments: "I couldn't be more excited to meet this little one and watch you two become parents."

Last month, the couple celebrated their first wedding anniversary. The pair were married at her 50-hectare horse farm in North Salem on October 16 last year, a day after they reportedly exchanged vows in a smaller Muslim ceremony.

Gates, a medical student, 26, marked the anniversary with a touching post on Instagram.

"I can’t believe it’s already been a year since we kicked off the most special weekend of our lives," she wrote, alongside a gallery of four images from their wedding weekend.

The fairy-tale setting was designed by Rishi Patel, regularly named as one of the top wedding and event designers in the world.

For the ceremony, Gates wore a long-sleeved lace gown which was custom-made by Vera Wang Haute. She wore her hair loose with a long veil and carried a white bouquet.

She changed into a second dress for the reception, also designed by Wang, which featured a square neckline, lined with nude tulle and embellished with hand-applique French macrame lace.

Nassar wore a simple three-piece tux, with white flowers to match Gates's bouquet pinned to his lapel.

Gates and Nassar, 31, who represented Egypt at the Tokyo Olympic Games, announced their engagement in January 2020. The couple have been together since 2018, and got engaged during a skiing holiday. They held an engagement party in Florida.

"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," Jennifer wrote on Instagram at the time of their engagement.

"I can’t wait to spend the rest of our lives learning, growing, laughing and loving together. Yes a million times over."

Nassar was born in Chicago but grew up in Kuwait, where members of his family still live. In 2009, he moved back to California, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in economics.

Instead of entering the world of finance, however, he carved out a successful career in showjumping.

When they got engaged, Nassar also posted an announcement on his own Instagram account, saying: “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 any more. 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!”

Celebrities who have welcomed babies in 2022, from Hilaria Baldwin to Rihanna — in pictures

  • Alec and Hilaria Baldwin welcomed their seventh child together, Alec's eighth, in September. Photo: @hilariabaldwin / Instagram
    Alec and Hilaria Baldwin welcomed their seventh child together, Alec's eighth, in September. Photo: @hilariabaldwin / Instagram
  • Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Nick Jonas with their daughter Malti Marie, who was born in January via surrogate. Photo: @PriyankaChopra / Instagram
    Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Nick Jonas with their daughter Malti Marie, who was born in January via surrogate. Photo: @PriyankaChopra / Instagram
  • Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodriguez welcomed a new baby daughter earlier this year, although the baby's twin brother tragically died. Photo: @cristiano / Instagram
    Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodriguez welcomed a new baby daughter earlier this year, although the baby's twin brother tragically died. Photo: @cristiano / Instagram
  • American football quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who is also famous for his civil rights activism, took a few weeks before announcing the birth of his baby boy with radio and TV host Nessa Diab. Photo: @nessnitty / Instagram
    American football quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who is also famous for his civil rights activism, took a few weeks before announcing the birth of his baby boy with radio and TV host Nessa Diab. Photo: @nessnitty / Instagram
  • Nick Cannon and Lanisha Cole with their newborn, who is Cannon's ninth child, and the second born this year. Photo: @misslanishacola / Instagram
    Nick Cannon and Lanisha Cole with their newborn, who is Cannon's ninth child, and the second born this year. Photo: @misslanishacola / Instagram
  • Khloe Kardashian and former boyfriend Tristan Thompson welcomed their second child, a baby boy, via surrogate on August 5. Hollywood To You/Star Max/GC Images
    Khloe Kardashian and former boyfriend Tristan Thompson welcomed their second child, a baby boy, via surrogate on August 5. Hollywood To You/Star Max/GC Images
  • Nicky Hilton Rothschild, a member of the Hilton family of the hotels fame, announced on July 5 that her daughters Lily-Grace and Theodora 'Teddy' were big sisters. Photo: @nickyhilton / Instagram
    Nicky Hilton Rothschild, a member of the Hilton family of the hotels fame, announced on July 5 that her daughters Lily-Grace and Theodora 'Teddy' were big sisters. Photo: @nickyhilton / Instagram
  • Jennifer Lawrence and Cooke Maroney welcomed a baby boy in February. MEGA/GC Images
    Jennifer Lawrence and Cooke Maroney welcomed a baby boy in February. MEGA/GC Images
  • Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and fiance, action star Jason Statham welcomed their second baby, Isabella James Statham, in February. Getty Images via AFP
    Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and fiance, action star Jason Statham welcomed their second baby, Isabella James Statham, in February. Getty Images via AFP
  • Leona Lewis gave birth to daughter Carmel Allegra towards the end of July. She's pictured here with her producer husband Dennis Jauch. Getty Images via AFP
    Leona Lewis gave birth to daughter Carmel Allegra towards the end of July. She's pictured here with her producer husband Dennis Jauch. Getty Images via AFP
  • It was speculated that actors Shia LaBeouf and Mia Goth had given birth to a baby in April after they were spotted in California pushing a baby stroller. Karwai Tang/WireImage
    It was speculated that actors Shia LaBeouf and Mia Goth had given birth to a baby in April after they were spotted in California pushing a baby stroller. Karwai Tang/WireImage
  • Michael Buble and Luisana Lopilato welcomed their fourth child together in August. Getty Images via AFP
    Michael Buble and Luisana Lopilato welcomed their fourth child together in August. Getty Images via AFP
  • 'Game of Thrones' actress Sophie Turner welcomed her second daughter with musician Joe Jonas on July 14, two years to the month since she gave birth to Willa. Getty Images via AFP
    'Game of Thrones' actress Sophie Turner welcomed her second daughter with musician Joe Jonas on July 14, two years to the month since she gave birth to Willa. Getty Images via AFP
  • Pippa Middleton, the sister of Kate, Princess of Wales, gave birth to her third child, a baby girl, with James Matthews. Karwai Tang/WireImage
    Pippa Middleton, the sister of Kate, Princess of Wales, gave birth to her third child, a baby girl, with James Matthews. Karwai Tang/WireImage
  • Actor Nicolas Cage said hello to his third child this year, his first with wife Riko Shibata. Getty Images via AFP
    Actor Nicolas Cage said hello to his third child this year, his first with wife Riko Shibata. Getty Images via AFP
  • Actress Julia Stiles and husband Preston J Cook announced the birth of baby Arlo in January. It's their second child together. Getty Images for Sky Atlantic
    Actress Julia Stiles and husband Preston J Cook announced the birth of baby Arlo in January. It's their second child together. Getty Images for Sky Atlantic
  • Rihanna and rapper A$AP Rocky reportedly welcomed their first child, a boy, in May. Getty Images via AFP
    Rihanna and rapper A$AP Rocky reportedly welcomed their first child, a boy, in May. Getty Images via AFP
  • Kylie Jenner gave birth to a son with Houston rapper Travis Scott in February. AFP
    Kylie Jenner gave birth to a son with Houston rapper Travis Scott in February. AFP
  • Oscar-winning filmmaker Quentin Tarantino welcomed his second child with singer and model wife Daniella, daughter of Israeli singer-songwriter Tzvika Pick, in July. AFP
    Oscar-winning filmmaker Quentin Tarantino welcomed his second child with singer and model wife Daniella, daughter of Israeli singer-songwriter Tzvika Pick, in July. AFP
  • Retired tennis great Maria Sharapova gave birth to her first child, a son called Theodore, with her partner Alexander Gilkes on July 1. AFP
    Retired tennis great Maria Sharapova gave birth to her first child, a son called Theodore, with her partner Alexander Gilkes on July 1. AFP
  • British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran and wife Cherry Seaborn quietly welcomed their second child earlier this year, announcing the birth in May. JMEnternational/Getty Images
    British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran and wife Cherry Seaborn quietly welcomed their second child earlier this year, announcing the birth in May. JMEnternational/Getty Images
  • American author Katherine Schwarzenegger gave birth to her and Chris Pratt's second daughter on May 21. They are also parents to older daughter, Lyla Maria, 1. AFP
    American author Katherine Schwarzenegger gave birth to her and Chris Pratt's second daughter on May 21. They are also parents to older daughter, Lyla Maria, 1. AFP
Updated: November 24, 2022, 4:36 PM