Bill Gates Expresses Deep Regret Over Ties to Jeffrey Epstein, Citing "Huge Mistake"

SEATTLE, WA – Billionaire philanthropist and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has publicly expressed profound regret over his past association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, describing the interactions as a "huge mistake" that cast a shadow over his philanthropic work and significantly impacted his personal life. The apologies, reiterated in recent statements and a town hall meeting with staff of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, follow renewed scrutiny brought by the release of documents related to the Epstein investigation and underscore the lasting repercussions of the controversial connection.

Gates has maintained that his engagements with Epstein were solely focused on philanthropic discussions, particularly regarding potential fundraising for global health initiatives, and has vehemently denied any involvement in or knowledge of Epstein's criminal activities. However, the revelations have sparked extensive public debate and have been cited by his former wife, Melinda French Gates, as a contributing factor to their divorce.

Acknowledging the "Mistake"

Gates' most recent public apology occurred during a Gates Foundation town hall on February 25, 2026, where he directly addressed employees. According to reports, he acknowledged the immense distraction his ties to Epstein had created for the organization's critical work. "It was a huge mistake to spend time with Epstein," Gates reportedly stated, offering an apology to "other people who are drawn into this because of the mistake that I made." This sentiment echoed earlier remarks made to Australia's 9News, where he expressed regret for "every minute" spent with Epstein, calling himself "foolish" for the association.

In these admissions, Gates took responsibility for his actions, emphasizing his lack of awareness regarding the full extent of Epstein's illicit conduct. He informed staff that while he was cognizant of an "18-month thing" that had limited Epstein's travel, referring to the financier's 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor for prostitution, he did not thoroughly investigate Epstein's background. Gates has consistently denied engaging in any illicit activities himself or witnessing any wrongdoing during his interactions with Epstein.

The Nature of the Association

The connection between Bill Gates and Jeffrey Epstein reportedly began in 2011, three years after Epstein's initial conviction. Gates has stated that his motivation for meeting with Epstein was Epstein's purported ability to connect him with wealthy individuals who could contribute to global health philanthropy, a key focus of the Gates Foundation. Over approximately three years, until 2014, Gates and Epstein met on multiple occasions, including at Epstein's Manhattan home. These meetings sometimes involved Gates Foundation executives.

Gates has also admitted to traveling on Epstein's private jet and meeting him in various international locations such as Germany and France, in addition to New York and Washington. However, he has adamantly denied ever staying overnight with Epstein or visiting his infamous private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Gates clarified that photographs of him with unidentified women, which emerged from the recently released documents, were taken at Epstein's request with his assistants after their business discussions. "To be clear, I never spent any time with victims, the women around him," Gates stated.

Personal Fallout and Marital Strain

The revelations surrounding Bill Gates' relationship with Jeffrey Epstein have had profound personal consequences, most notably contributing to the breakdown of his marriage to Melinda French Gates. Melinda French Gates expressed her discomfort and concerns about her then-husband's association with Epstein as early as 2013. Reports indicate that she began consulting divorce lawyers in 2019, coinciding with the public emergence of details regarding Bill Gates' meetings with Epstein.

In subsequent interviews, Melinda French Gates has been explicit about the pain and difficulty caused by these ties. She described seeing her former husband's name in the Epstein files as bringing back "memories of some very, very painful times in my marriage." She stated that the "muck" surrounding the situation led her to feel she "had to leave" her marriage and eventually stepped down from her role as co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2024. She has also suggested that Bill Gates has "questions to answer" regarding his relationship with the convicted sex offender.

Allegations of Extortion and Personal Admissions

Adding another layer of complexity to the narrative, Bill Gates also addressed claims of attempted extortion by Epstein. Gates stated that Epstein allegedly tried to leverage information about Gates' extramarital affairs after failing to secure his participation in a multi-billion dollar charity fund. Gates has openly acknowledged having two affairs during his marriage – one with a "Russian bridge player" and another with a "Russian nuclear physicist." He clarified that these affairs were separate from his interactions with Epstein and did not involve any of Epstein's victims.

Gates specifically refuted the authenticity of unsent emails attributed to Epstein, which contained allegations about Gates' sexual conduct and supposed attempts to conceal a sexually transmitted infection. Gates dismissed these as "false" and questioned Epstein's motives, pondering if he was attempting to "attack me in some way." A spokesperson for Gates echoed this, asserting that these claims were "absolutely absurd and completely false" and merely demonstrated "Epstein's frustration that he did not have an ongoing relationship with Gates and the lengths he would go to entrap and defame."

Conclusion

Bill Gates' repeated apologies and detailed explanations regarding his ties to Jeffrey Epstein underscore a concerted effort to manage the fallout from a connection that continues to draw public scrutiny and has had far-reaching personal and professional consequences. While Gates consistently denies any complicity in Epstein's crimes, acknowledging only a "mistake" in judgment driven by philanthropic aspirations, the association has indelibly marked his public image and significantly impacted his most personal relationships. The ongoing discussion surrounding these ties serves as a stark reminder of the complexities and potential perils associated with high-profile relationships, particularly in the shadow of grave misconduct.