Bill Gates Opens Up About Epstein, Reveals Identities of Two Affairs
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Microsoft founder, Bill Gates, has spoken out about his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in an internal meeting with Gates Foundation employees.
The foundation’s spokesperson stated that the statement was made during a town hall forum, following the release of new emails that detailed Gates’s relationship with Epstein.
In the recording of the meeting, Gates affirmed that he did not do anything illegal during his interactions with Epstein and never stayed with him, although the two were known to have met in several countries, as reported by The Wall Street Journal.
In the meeting, which was held on Tuesday (February 24), Gates also admitted to having had affairs with a Russian bridge player and a Russian nuclear physicist. Gates and Melinda French, who previously served as co-chairs of the foundation, officially divorced in 2021.
A foundation representative said that during the forum, Gates answered various staff questions regarding the release of the Epstein files, the foundation’s work in developing artificial intelligence, and the future of global health.
“In the town hall, Bill spoke openly, answered several questions in detail, and took responsibility for his actions,” said the representative, quoted from CNBC International, Thursday (February 26, 2026).
The release of millions of pages of documents by the US Department of Justice in January implicated a number of politicians, academics, and business executives. Some of them chose to resign from their positions.
Over the past few years, Gates has repeatedly stated that his involvement with Epstein was a mistake. Last week, the foundation also announced that Gates would not attend an artificial intelligence conference in India.
In the latest documents released by the Department of Justice, emails between Gates and Epstein were revealed, discussing philanthropic fundraising, the search for a Microsoft CEO, and a $1 bet on the performance of the euro currency. The emails also showed meetings of foundation staff, the information of which was forwarded to Epstein, who occasionally provided follow-up advice.
A few weeks earlier, the foundation stated that the interactions of a small number of employees with Epstein were carried out based on the claim that he could raise significant philanthropic resources for the health and global development sectors. The foundation affirmed that it never paid Epstein and never formed any funds with him.
“The harm caused by Epstein to women and girls is horrific, and no one should have to experience what they went through,” said the foundation in an official statement.
(dem/dem)