Who Wrote a Check for Phia?

Plus: Melania Trump and Jill Biden’s Frosty Relationship

View in browser | Update preferences SUBSCRIBE FOR FULL ACCESS Earlier today, Phoebe Gates swung by the VF office to tell us about her new AI-powered shopping app, Phia. It was good timing—the app, which she cofounded with Sophia Kianni, is having quite the week. On Monday, they announced that they’d raised $35.5 million in funding. The announcement made a splash online, not only for that number. “It was the list Phia posted on Instagram confirming its investors,” Vanity Fair’s Elise Taylor writes. “Gates and Kianni shared them on a graphic resembling a Coachella lineup, with household names like Khloé Kardashian and Alix Earle big and bold up top, and less recognizable names at the bottom.” The list is so long and varied that you would be forgiven for not knowing who each of these people are. Elise wrote a handy guide for you to understand who’s who within this motley crew. Elsewhere, what’s going on with Patagonia and Pattie Gonia, Mark McKinnon on how James Talarico could take Texas, and what Jill Biden’s new memoir reveals about her relationship with Melania Trump. LINDSEY UNDERWOOD, SENIOR EDITOR Why this ad? The Announcement for Phoebe Gates’s Phia Investors Looks Like a Coachella Lineup BY ELISE TAYLOR The AI-powered shopping app (founded by Bill Gates’s daughter) named investors like Khloé Kardashian, Sydney Sweeney, and…a former Bachelorette? READ MORE Get more as a Vanity Fair subscriber Exclusive offer: Subscribe to get one month of Vanity Fair free START YOUR FREE TRIAL More Great Reads FIT CHECK There Can Be No Winners in the Patagonia v. Pattie Gonia Debacle BY JOSÉ CRIALES-UNZUETA A seemingly standard trademark-infringement lawsuit has developed into a public spectacle being judged by social media users. READ MORE POLITICS Is Texas About to Weather a Big Blue Storm? BY MARK MCKINNON A veteran Lone Star State strategist forecasts a midterm win for Democrat James Talarico, believing political winds could swing deep red Texas blue. READ MORE Video Jon Favreau’s Definitive Interview BY VANITY FAIR From launching the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Iron Man to bringing audiences into the worlds of Chef, The Mandalorian, and Elf, the Emmy winner offers an in-depth look at the filmmaking process behind some of his most beloved projects. Ahead, watch as Favreau breaks down his approach to directing, storytelling, casting, world-building, and collaboration, sharing insights from decades of work across film and television—including what it was like filming Elf in a post-9/11 New York City. From blockbuster franchises to personal passion projects, this is Jon Favreau’s definitive look back at the career that helped shape modern entertainment. WATCH NOW Why this ad? In Case You Missed It The Frosty First Ladies In her memoir, Jill Biden writes about warm exchanges with Queen Camilla, Queen Rania, and Brigitte Macron—but says her attempts to connect with Melania Trump have often been met with stonewalling. A Royal School for Thought Prince William gave a rare insight into his eldest son’s school life during an interview last week while VF has learned that the Prince and Princess of Wales are also considering a new school for their daughter, Princess Charlotte. The Udon Date Heard Round the World After months of speculation, Kendall Jenner and Jacob Elordi seem to confirm their relationship by posing for photos while they eat their way through Japan. MORE FROM VANITY FAIR POLITICS BUSINESS HOLLYWOOD STYLE ROYALS CELEBRITY This e-mail was sent to you by VANITY FAIR. To ensure delivery to your inbox (not bulk or junk folders), please add our e-mail address, vanityfair@newsletter.vf.com, to your address book. View our Privacy Policy Unsubscribe Copyright © Condé Nast 2026. One World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007. All rights reserved.