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Mount Sinai Today
By the People, for the People
Bill Gates' Daughter Joins Ownership Group of Portland Trail Blazers
Jennifer Gates and husband Nayel Nassar acquire minority stake in NBA franchise.
Apr. 1, 2026 at 3:39pm
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Jennifer Gates, the eldest daughter of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, has joined the ownership group of the Portland Trail Blazers. Gates and her husband, Nayel Nassar, were listed as minority owners in the announcement of the NBA team's sale by the estate of Paul Allen, the other co-founder of Microsoft.
Why it matters
The sale of the Trail Blazers is part of the ongoing transition of ownership of Paul Allen's sports holdings after his death in 2018. The involvement of Bill Gates' daughter Jennifer in the new ownership group adds another high-profile name to the franchise and highlights the continued influence of tech industry leaders in professional sports.
The details
The new majority owner of the Trail Blazers is the Rip City Rising group, led by Dallas billionaire Tom Dundon, who also owns the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes and is the chairman of pickleball.com. Gates, 29, is in her second year of a pediatric residency in New York City and competed in equestrian sports at the international level, as did her husband Nayel Nassar, who represented Egypt at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
- The Trail Blazers were previously owned by the estate of Paul Allen, who bought the team in 1988 and passed away in 2018.
- The new ownership group was announced on April 1, 2026.
The players
Jennifer Gates
The eldest daughter of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, who has acquired a minority stake in the Portland Trail Blazers as part of the new ownership group.
Nayel Nassar
Jennifer Gates' husband, who is also a minority owner of the Trail Blazers and competed in equestrian sports at the international level, representing Egypt at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
Tom Dundon
The Dallas billionaire who is the majority owner of the new Rip City Rising ownership group that purchased the Portland Trail Blazers. Dundon also owns the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes and is the chairman of pickleball.com.
Paul Allen
The co-founder of Microsoft who previously owned the Portland Trail Blazers, which were sold by his estate after his death in 2018.
Bill Gates
The co-founder of Microsoft, whose daughter Jennifer Gates has acquired a minority stake in the Portland Trail Blazers as part of the new ownership group.
What they’re saying
“We're excited to welcome Jennifer and Nayel to the Rip City Rising ownership group. Their passion for sports and commitment to the community will be a great addition to the franchise.”
— Tom Dundon, Majority Owner, Portland Trail Blazers
What’s next
The new ownership group is expected to be officially approved by the NBA in the coming weeks, paving the way for Jennifer Gates and Nayel Nassar to take their seats on the team's board of governors.
The takeaway
The involvement of Bill Gates' daughter Jennifer in the new ownership group of the Portland Trail Blazers highlights the continued influence of tech industry leaders in professional sports, as well as the ongoing transition of ownership of Paul Allen's sports holdings after his passing.
