In his first public interview since the latest release of Jeffrey Epstein-related documents by the United States Department of Justice, billionaire philanthropist and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has openly expressed regret over his past association with the disgraced financier. Gates characterized his decision to spend time with Epstein as "foolish" and stated he deeply regrets every minute of their interaction.
Denial of Serious Allegations
The technology entrepreneur firmly denied disturbing allegations contained within the newly unsealed court files. These documents suggested Gates contracted a sexually transmitted disease following alleged encounters with Russian women, a claim that appeared in a draft email Epstein reportedly wrote to himself in 2013. According to the files, Epstein allegedly claimed he was asked to arrange antibiotics for Gates to secretly administer to his then-wife, Melinda Gates.
"Apparently, Jeffrey wrote an email to himself. That email was never sent. The email is false," Gates stated emphatically during the interview. "I don't know what his thinking was there. Was he trying to attack me in some way?"
Context of the Association
Gates confirmed meeting Epstein in 2011 and acknowledged having several dinners with him over approximately three years. However, he insisted he never visited Epstein's private island and denied having any inappropriate relationships with women connected to the financier.
Reflecting on what initially drew him to Epstein, Gates explained: "He knew a lot of very rich people. He was saying he could get them to give money to global health. In retrospect, that was a dead end."
Family Fallout and Personal Impact
The controversy has had significant personal consequences for Gates, particularly affecting his family relationships. His former wife, Melinda Gates, recently addressed the matter publicly for the first time on an NPR podcast, stating: "I'm so happy to be away from all the muck." She revealed the allegations brought back "very, very painful" memories from their marriage and emphasized her ex-husband "needs to answer" questions arising from the scandal.
The couple divorced in 2021 after 27 years of marriage, with Melinda Gates previously indicating that her former husband's affairs and his relationship with Epstein were significant factors in the marriage's dissolution.
Document Details and Additional Claims
The renewed scrutiny follows the release of millions of pages of Epstein-related records by the U.S. Justice Department. According to these files, Epstein wrote a lengthy message to himself on July 18, 2013, expressing anger at Gates for ending their association and making a series of unproven allegations.
The documents suggest Epstein may have been drafting a letter intended to be sent by Boris Nikolic, a senior adviser to Gates at the time who later resigned from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. In one particularly graphic passage, Epstein allegedly wrote about being asked to delete emails concerning medical matters and physical descriptions.
In another alleged draft, Epstein claimed he had been asked to assist Gates in matters ranging from "morally inappropriate" to "ethically unsound," though these claims remain completely unsubstantiated. The files also include undated photographs showing Epstein and Gates together with women whose identities have been redacted.
Broader Context and Current Standing
Gates has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and maintained that the documents would ultimately show his association with Epstein "has nothing to do with that kind of behavior." It's important to note that Bill Gates has not been accused of criminal conduct by any of Epstein's victims, and his appearance in the files does not imply illegal activity.
Epstein died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges. Meanwhile, Gates continues his philanthropic work through the Gates Foundation, having pledged to donate his entire personal wealth—estimated at around $200 billion—to efforts aimed at eradicating disease and improving global health.
"Every minute I spent with him, I regret, and I apologise that I did that," Gates concluded about his Epstein association, adding that he is among "many people who regret ever knowing him."
