Bill Gates Admits To Affairs With Russian Women, Distances Himself From Epstein Crimes
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates acknowledged past affairs with two Russian women during a Gates Foundation town hall on Tuesday, while also apologizing for his past association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and insisting he had no involvement in Epstein’s criminal conduct.
According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, Gates told foundation staff that he had sexual relationships with a Russian bridge player and a Russian nuclear physicist. He said Epstein later learned of the encounters but denied that the relationships were connected to Epstein’s sex-trafficking operation.
“I did nothing illicit. I saw nothing illicit,” Gates told employees. “To be clear I never spent any time with victims, the women around [Epstein].”
Gates said he met the Russian bridge player in 2010 at bridge events. The woman was later introduced to Epstein in 2013. Epstein reportedly paid for her to attend a software coding course and, in a 2017 email, asked Gates to reimburse him for the expense. Gates maintained that his relationship with her was not part of any trafficking scheme.
He also acknowledged an affair with a Russian nuclear physicist whom he met through business activities. The physicist previously worked at one of Gates’ companies. Gates did not clarify whether their relationship began while she was employed there.
During the town hall, Gates said he traveled with Epstein multiple times but “never stayed overnight” with him and never visited Epstein’s private island. He described his association with Epstein as a “huge mistake.”
“It was a huge mistake to spend time with Epstein,” Gates said. “I apologize to other people who are drawn into this because of the mistake that I made.”
Epstein-related emails from 2013, released by the Justice Department, referenced Gates’ alleged affairs and included a draft message that appeared to describe “illegal trysts” and drug use. The message was reportedly found on Epstein’s server and appeared to be written as a resignation letter from Gates’ former science adviser, Boris Nikolic.
A representative for Gates has previously dismissed the claims contained in the email as “absolutely absurd and completely false,” calling the source a “proven, disgruntled liar.” Nikolic also told The Wall Street Journal that the emails were not written on his behalf or at his request.
Gates emphasized that he has not been accused of committing any crimes related to Epstein or in connection with the relationships he described. He first met Epstein in 2011, three years after Epstein’s 2008 guilty plea related to procuring a minor for prostitution.
The revelations come amid continued scrutiny of Gates’ past relationship with Epstein, which contributed to tensions in his marriage. Gates and Melinda French Gates divorced in 2021 after reports of his meetings with Epstein surfaced publicly in 2019.
“To give her credit, she was always kind of skeptical about the Epstein thing,” Gates said of his former wife, adding that he regretted not looking more closely into Epstein’s background despite being aware that Epstein faced travel restrictions.
Gates concluded by reiterating his apology, saying his association with Epstein remains one of the biggest misjudgments of his life.