- Bill Gates admits to affairs during marriage
- Apologises to Gates Foundation staff
- Addresses Epstein relationship publicly
- Denies any criminal involvement
Microsoft co-founder and billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates has admitted to having two extramarital affairs during his marriage to Melinda French Gates and apologised for his past association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, describing both as serious personal mistakes.
Gates made the disclosure during a closed-door meeting with staff of the Gates Foundation on Tuesday, where he addressed lingering concerns surrounding his private life and past associations.
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According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, the tech billionaire admitted to having two affairs with Russian women while he was still married, noting that Epstein later became aware of the relationships.
Gates also acknowledged spending time with Epstein, including traveling on a private jet and meeting him in the United States and abroad. However, he strongly denied any involvement in illegal activities connected to the disgraced financier.
“I did nothing illicit. I saw nothing illicit,” Gates told staff during the meeting.
Clarifying further, he added:
“To be clear, I never spent any time with the victims, the women around him.”
Gates first met Epstein in 2011, years after Epstein had been convicted in Florida for procuring a minor for prostitution. Despite reported concerns raised by Melinda French Gates at the time, he continued to maintain contact with Epstein.
The billionaire has come under renewed scrutiny following the release of Epstein-related files by the US Department of Justice in January.
While Gates has consistently denied any wrongdoing linked to Epstein, he confirmed that his affairs contributed to the collapse of his marriage. Melinda French Gates filed for divorce in 2021, ending their 27-year union.
Speaking candidly, Gates said:
“I did have affairs, one with a Russian bridge player who met me at bridge events, and one with a Russian nuclear physicist who I met through business activities.”
