Bill Gates spent a year trying to test Rosie O'Donnell for autism

Rosie O'Donnell revealed that Bill Gates' team repeatedly contacted her over the course of a year to test her for autism, citing her unusual ability to recite lyrics and commercials from decades past as evidence of potential neurodivergence. This effort was part of Gates' funding for a study at the University of Seattle aimed at identifying high-profile individuals on the autism spectrum during a time when research was still emerging. Despite the persistence of these requests, O'Donnell expressed no offense, noting that her experience with neurodivergence through her own child helped foster patience and self-reflection.

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All articles from 16 August 2026. Summaries are AI-generated and may contain errors; the linked article is the authority.