Bill Gates Admits Affair and Regrets Relationship with Jeffrey Epstein

Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Bill Gates, the Microsoft co-founder and prominent philanthropist, has returned to the public spotlight after admitting to two extramarital affairs during his marriage to Melinda French Gates.

This admission comes amidst his apology to Gates Foundation staff for his controversial relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

In a February 2026 town hall meeting, Gates publicly expressed regret for his interactions with Epstein, calling it a "huge mistake" and asserting full responsibility for his actions.

"It was a huge mistake to spend time with Epstein," he said, adding: "I apologize to other people who are drawn into this because of the mistake that I made."

He also apologized to others who may have been affected by his decision.

Bill Gates explicitly apologized to Gates Foundation staff for his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.

He acknowledged that his decision to interact with Epstein was a major mistake, though he insisted that nothing illegal occurred or was witnessed during his meetings.

A Gates Foundation spokesperson confirmed that Gates had answered staff questions honestly and responsibly.

The relationship between Gates and Epstein began in 2011, three years after Epstein was convicted of soliciting a minor for prostitution.

Their meetings continued until 2014, involving private jet travel and visits to locations such as Germany, France, New York, and Washington.

Gates claimed he had only vague information about the "18-month issue" restricting Epstein's movements, and that he did not conduct a thorough background check at the time.

However, Bill Gates mentioned that he never stayed at Epstein's properties, visited his private island, or spending time with the sex offender's victims.

In addition to the Epstein controversy, Bill Gates also admitted to two extramarital affairs with Russian women during his marriage to Melinda French Gates.

One affair involved a Russian bridge player he met at an event, while the other was with a Russian nuclear physicist he met through business dealings.

Epstein reportedly knew about these affairs.

In 2017, Epstein allegedly attempted to extort Bill Gates regarding an affair with Russian bridge player Mila Antonova.

Epstein demanded reimbursement for Antonova's coding school expenses, which he initially covered, which was later interpreted as an extortion attempt.

Microsoft itself launched an investigation in 2019 into "Bill Gates' involvement with an employee" nearly two decades earlier.

This investigation began after the company was informed of Gates' attempt to begin a romantic relationship with the employee in 2000.

However, the investigation was not concluded because Bill Gates resigned from the board of directors before the process was completed.

Melinda French Gates has reportedly been skeptical of Jeffrey Epstein since her husband first met her.

Her concerns about Bill Gates' relationship with Epstein began in 2013, and she began consulting with a divorce lawyer in 2019.

Melinda even expressed "tremendous sadness" and a "very painful time" in her marriage as a result of the Epstein-related details coming to light.

Bill Gates vehemently denies engaging in any illegal activity or witnessing any illegal activity during his relationship with Epstein.

He also denied ever spending time with Epstein's victims or any of the women around him.

Regarding the photos circulating of him with women whose faces were redacted in the Epstein files, Gates explained that Epstein asked him to pose for the photos with his assistant after their meetings.

Allegations from the newly released "Epstein files," based on Epstein's 2013 emails, claim that Gates had "extramarital sex with Russian girls" that led to sexually transmitted infections.

Gates and the his Foundation deny these allegations, calling them "completely absurd and completely false," and allege Epstein was attempting to blackmail or defame them.