Bill Gates has acknowledged making a “huge mistake” in associating with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, expressing regret during a private town hall meeting with staff at the Gates Foundation. Gates admitted his relationship with Epstein negatively affected the foundation’s reputation and apologized for involving colleagues in meetings with the disgraced financier.
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According to a recording reviewed by The Wall Street Journal, Gates told employees he regretted spending time with Epstein and introducing foundation executives to him. He described his decision as a serious personal and professional error, acknowledging the broader impact on the organization’s credibility and mission.
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Documents recently released by the US Justice Department included allegations from Epstein claiming he had knowledge of Gates’ personal affairs and assisted in facilitating meetings. Gates addressed these claims directly, admitting he had extramarital affairs with two Russian women, including a bridge player and a nuclear physicist. However, he strongly denied any involvement in Epstein’s criminal activities or knowledge of illegal conduct.
“I did nothing illicit. I saw nothing illicit,” Gates told staff, emphasizing that he was unaware of Epstein’s ongoing crimes at the time of their association. He noted that his relationship with Epstein began in 2011, despite Epstein’s earlier conviction in 2008 for soliciting a minor. Gates also acknowledged that his former wife, Melinda French Gates, had raised concerns about Epstein years before their association ended.
Epstein died in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges, a case that drew global attention. Gates told staff that understanding the full extent of Epstein’s crimes later made his decision to associate with him “a hundred times worse.”
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The Gates Foundation said Gates addressed the issue openly and took responsibility for his actions during the internal meeting.