In a candid Gates Foundation address, Bill Gates admitted to extramarital affairs with two Russian women during his marriage to Melinda French Gates.
The 70-year-old billionaire philanthropist also apologized for his ties to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, describing the relationship as a “huge mistake” while staunchly denying any involvement in illicit activities.
Gates delivered these revelations during a town hall meeting on Tuesday at the foundation’s Seattle headquarters, according to reports from multiple sources.
He acknowledged hanging out with Epstein both in the United States and overseas, including flights on the financier’s private jet, but emphasized, “I did nothing illicit.” I saw nothing illicit.” Gates further clarified, “To be clear, I never spent any time with the victims, the women around him.”
The admissions come amid ongoing fallout from the recent release of the so-called “Epstein Files,” a trove of documents unsealed by the U.S. Justice Department that have reignited public interest in Epstein’s network of high-profile associates.
Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges, was convicted in 2008 in Florida for procuring a child for prostitution. Gates first connected with him in 2011, three years after that conviction, and continued the relationship despite objections from his then-wife, Melinda.
Melinda French Gates, who filed for divorce in 2021, has previously described Epstein as “abhorrent” and suggested that her ex-husband’s association with him contributed to the end of their marriage.
During the town hall, Gates dropped the bombshell about his affairs, stating, “I did have affairs, one with a Russian bridge player who met me at bridge events, and one with a Russian nuclear physicist whom I met through business activities.”
Although Gates did not name the woman, prior reporting has linked him to Mila Antonova, a Russian bridge player, whose alleged affair was detailed in a 2023 Wall Street Journal investigation. Epstein reportedly discovered these relationships and used the information to attempt to blackmail Gates in the mid-2010s, according to foundation insiders.
The Epstein Files include a draft email that Epstein appeared to send to himself, alleging Gates had contracted an STD from “sex with Russian girls” and discussing the “consequences.” Gates has vehemently denied the email’s authenticity, telling 9 News Australia earlier this month, “The email is false.” I don’t know what his thinking was there.” He reiterated to staff that his interactions with Epstein were purely professional, aimed at advancing philanthropic goals, but admitted Melinda had been “always kind of skeptical about the Epstein thing” as early as 2013.
This is not the first time Gates’ personal conduct has come under scrutiny. In 2021, following the divorce announcement, reports surfaced of inappropriate behavior toward female employees at Microsoft, leading to an internal investigation. Gates stepped down from the Microsoft board in 2020 amid those probes. The Gates Foundation, which he co-chairs with Melinda, has continued its work in global health and education, disbursing billions in grants annually.
Public reaction to Gates’ admissions has been swift and divided, with social media buzzing over the revelations. Some critics question the timing, suggesting it’s an attempt to control the narrative amid the Epstein document releases, while supporters praise his transparency. The foundation issued a statement saying Gates “took responsibility for his actions” during the meeting.
As the dust settles, questions linger about the full extent of Gates’s entanglement with Epstein and how it might impact his philanthropic legacy. Neither Gates nor the foundation responded to requests for further comment.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Bill Gates has publicly admitted to having extramarital affairs with two Russian women—a bridge player and a nuclear physicist—during his marriage to Melinda French Gates.
He also confirmed spending time with Jeffrey Epstein after Epstein’s 2008 conviction, including flights on his jet, while insisting he engaged in no illegal activity and never met any victims.
Gates described his Epstein connection as a “huge mistake” that contributed to the strain in his marriage, which ended in divorce in 2021, and these revelations resurfaced amid the recent Epstein document releases.
