Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has admitted to having two affairs and apologised to staff at the Gates Foundation over his past association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, describing the relationship as a “huge mistake.”
Gates made the remarks during a scheduled town hall meeting with foundation employees following renewed scrutiny triggered by the release of additional Epstein-related documents by the U.S. Department of Justice earlier this year.
According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, which reviewed a recording of the session, Gates told staff he exercised poor judgement in maintaining contact with Epstein.
“I did nothing illicit. I saw nothing illicit,” Gates said, while maintaining that he was not involved in any of Epstein’s criminal activities.
He added: “I apologise to other people who are drawn into this because of the mistake that I made.”
Gates said he first met Epstein in 2011, several years after the financier had pleaded guilty to soliciting a minor for prostitution.
He acknowledged being aware that Epstein had faced travel restrictions but admitted he did not sufficiently scrutinise his background.
The billionaire philanthropist said he continued meeting Epstein until 2014, including encounters abroad, but stated he never stayed overnight at Epstein’s residences or visited his private island.
He also insisted he never interacted with Epstein’s victims.
Foundation Responds
In a statement, the Gates Foundation said the town hall was part of its regular twice-yearly staff engagement.
A spokesperson noted that Gates addressed questions candidly and took responsibility for his actions.
The foundation further clarified that although a small number of employees had interacted with Epstein after he claimed he could help mobilise philanthropic funding, no partnership or fund was ever established.
It emphasised that no payments were made to Epstein and that he was never employed by the organisation.
The controversy resurfaced after newly released documents included draft emails attributed to Epstein containing claims about Gates’ private life.
A spokesperson for Gates dismissed the allegations as “absolutely absurd and completely false.”
Melinda French Gates, who divorced Gates in 2021 after 27 years of marriage, recently described the document release as revisiting “painful times” and said those involved “need to answer to those things.”
Epstein died in a New York prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
Gates has not been accused of wrongdoing by Epstein’s victims and has repeatedly said he regrets his association with the disgraced financier.
