When you hear the name “Gates,” your mind probably jumps to one person: Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft. His life and work are known around the world. But the Gates family story is much larger than just one person. Bill grew up with two sisters, an older sister and a younger one. The eldest of the three is Kristi Gates, a woman who has built a remarkable life of her own, focused on family, finance, and deep community service.
Quick Bio of Kristianne “Kristi” Gates Blake
| Attribute | Detail |
| Full Name | Kristianne Gates Blake |
| Known As | Kristi Gates |
| Born | 1954 |
| Parents | William H. Gates Sr. & Mary Maxwell Gates |
| Siblings | Bill Gates & Libby Gates |
| Spouse | John Blake |
| Children | Two (names kept private) |
| Education | University of Washington |
| Occupation | Certified Public Accountant (CPA) |
| Key Career Roles | Partner at Deloitte, Haskins & Sells; Founder of Kristianne Gates Blake, P.S. |
| Key Philanthropic Roles | Former Regent at the University of Washington; Board member for United Way of Spokane & YMCA |
| Residence | Spokane, Washington |
| Relation to Bill Gates | Older Sister |
Who is Kristi Gates?
Kristi Gates was born Kristianne Gates in 1954. She is the first child of William H. Gates Sr. and Mary Maxwell Gates. As the oldest sibling, she set a high bar for the family. While her brother Bill became a global icon in technology, Kristi built her own path as a respected financial expert and a leader in her community.
After marrying her husband, John Blake, she became known as Kristianne Gates Blake. She has spent most of her adult life in Spokane, Washington, where she is known not just as Bill Gates’s sister, but as a pillar of the community in her own right.
The Gates Family Foundation: A Legacy of Service
To understand Kristi Gates, you must first understand her parents. She is the daughter of two very impressive people who believed success was not just about what you earned, but what you gave back.
Mary Maxwell Gates and Kristi Gates
Her mother, Mary Maxwell Gates, was a force of nature. She was a successful businesswoman who served on the boards of major companies, including IBM. She was also a strong believer in charity. She spent many years working with the United Way, and she taught her children that they had a duty to help others. This lesson deeply shaped Kristi Gates‘s life.
William H. Gates, Sr. and Kristi Gates
Her father, William H. Gates, Sr. (also called Bill Gates Sr.), was a prominent lawyer in Seattle. He was also a strong community leader. After he retired from law, he helped his son start the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. He guided its mission for many years. Growing up, Kristi Gates saw both of her parents work hard and serve their community every day.
The Three Gates Siblings
The Gates household was a busy and competitive one. The three Kristi Gates siblings—Kristi, Bill, and their younger sister Libby Gates were raised to be smart, curious, and to always challenge each other. Bill Gates has often said that he learned a lot from his sisters.
While Bill found his passion in computers, his sisters found different callings. Kristi Gates went into finance, and Libby Gates became a therapist. All three children, however, share the same strong commitment to philanthropy that their parents taught them.
What is Kristi Gates’s Job?
This brings us to the main question: What does Kristi Gates do for a living? The Kristi Gates job is one of high-level finance and accounting. She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
She graduated from the University of Washington (her parents’ alma mater) and began her career at the major accounting firm Deloitte, Haskins & Sells. She was very successful and eventually rose to the position of partner at the firm. This is a very difficult and impressive achievement in the financial world.
A New Path in Spokane
In 1987, Kristi Gates decided to make a big change. She and her husband, John, wanted a different kind of life than the one offered by a huge corporation. They made a “lifestyle decision” and moved from Seattle to Spokane, Washington.
In Spokane, she started her own private accounting practice, called Kristianne Gates Blake, P.S. This move allowed her to work directly with clients, helping them with financial planning. She even co-wrote a book in 1989 called “Stop Fighting about Money and Start Making it Work for You.” This shows her passion for helping people understand their finances.
A Life of Philanthropy and Leadership
While her job is as a CPA, a huge part of what Kristi Gates does is public service. Following her mother’s example, her list of volunteer work is incredibly long and shows a deep love for her community.
She served for 12 years on the University of Washington Board of Regents, one of the most important leadership roles at the university. This was a position her mother and father had also held.
A Community Pillar
Her work in Spokane is even more impressive. She has served on the boards of many organizations, including:
- United Way of Spokane
- YMCA of the Inland Empire
- Junior League of Spokane
- Community Colleges of Spokane Foundation
She also used her financial skills by serving as a director for Laird Norton Wealth Management. This work shows that Kristi Gates did not just join a famous family foundation; she put in the hard work herself, in her own town, for decades.
The Personal Life of Kristi Gates Blake
Kristi Gates is a very private person. She has successfully stayed out of the spotlight that follows her brother.
Kristi Gates’s Husband and Family
She is married to John Blake. When they moved to Spokane, he worked as a coach at the local community college. Together, they raised two children, who are also kept out of the public eye. The family values their privacy and their quiet, normal life in Spokane.
Some people search for “Kristi Gates ex-husband,” but there is no public information about this. She is known to be married to John Blake, her partner in building their life in Spokane.
An Aunt to the Next Generation
As the older sister, Kristi Gates is also an aunt to Bill’s three children. She has watched her niece and nephews grow up in the public eye.
- Jennifer Catherine Gates, her oldest niece, is a medical doctor and a world-class equestrian.
- Rory John Gates, her nephew, is very private. He earned a law degree from the University of Chicago.
- Phoebe Adele Gates, her youngest niece, is a student at Stanford University and a public advocate for women’s health.
While Jennifer, Rory, and Phoebe are well-known, their aunt Kristi Gates has provided a link to the family’s more private, service-oriented roots.
The Kristi Gates Net Worth Question
Because she is Bill Gates’s sister, many people are curious about the Kristi Gates net worth. The simple answer is that it is not public.
Kristi Gates is a private citizen. While she is certainly wealthy from her own successful career as a partner at a major accounting firm and running her own practice, her finances are not tracked and published like her brother’s. She lives a life of quiet success, not public mega-wealth.
Why Is There No Kristi Gates Wikipedia Page?
Another common question is why there isn’t a “Kristi Gates Wikipedia” page. Wikipedia has strict rules about “notability.” A person usually needs to have significant, widespread coverage in national or international news to get a page.
While Kristi Gates is a very successful and important person in Washington state and in the financial community, she has never sought the national spotlight. The fact that she doesn’t have a Wikipedia page is actually a sign of her success: she has managed to live a normal, private life.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What does Kristi Gates do for a living?
Kristi Gates is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). She was a partner at the firm Deloitte, Haskins & Sells and later started her own private accounting practice in Spokane, Washington. - Is Kristi Gates related to Bill Gates?
Yes, Kristi Gates (Kristianne Gates Blake) is the older sister of Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft. - Who is Kristi Gates’s husband?
Kristi Gates is married to John Blake. They moved to Spokane together in 1987 and have two children. - What is Kristi Gates’s net worth?
Kristi Gates’s net worth is not public. Unlike her brother, she is a private citizen, and her personal finances are not publicly tracked. - Why isn’t Kristi Gates as famous as her brother?
Kristi Gates has intentionally lived a private life. She focused on her career as a CPA and on local philanthropy in her community of Spokane, Washington, avoiding the global spotlight that follows her brother.
A Different Kind of Success
The life of Kristi Gates is a fascinating story of a different kind of success. She was born into a family that valued ambition and intelligence, and she used those gifts to become a top expert in her field.
But more importantly, she took her parents’ lessons to heart. Instead of seeking fame, she chose to build a family and a community. She has spent her life working quietly, both in her job and in her charity work, to make her corner of the world a better place. Kristi Gates defines success not by public fame, but by private contribution.
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