New York: In a candid address to his philanthropic organization on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, Bill Gates apologized to the staff of the Gates Foundation for the “cloud” his past association with Jeffrey Epstein has cast over the group. During a town hall meeting, the Microsoft co-founder acknowledged that his ties to the convicted sex offender, along with newly disclosed details from Justice Department files, have negatively impacted the reputation of the foundation. While admitting to significant lapses in judgment, Gates maintained that he “did nothing illicit” and was never involved in Epstein’s criminal activities.
According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, Gates admitted to having two past affairs with Russian women—a bridge player and a nuclear physicist—which were later discovered by Epstein. He clarified that these relationships did not involve any of Epstein’s victims and occurred separately from the sex offender’s crimes. Addressing photos from the recently released “Epstein files” that show him with women whose faces are redacted, Gates explained that these were pictures Epstein had asked him to take with his assistants following their meetings.
Gates expressed regret for continuing to meet with Epstein through 2014, even after his former wife, Melinda French Gates, raised concerns about the association in 2013. He admitted that he failed to properly vet Epstein’s background, despite being aware of the 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor for prostitution. While he traveled on a private jet with Epstein to various international locations, Gates specified that he never visited Epstein’s private island or stayed overnight at any of his properties.
A spokesperson for the Gates Foundation confirmed that Gates spoke candidly during the biennial town hall, taking full responsibility for actions that he admitted were contrary to the foundation’s values. Gates noted that because other high-profile individuals attended these meetings, he initially felt the situation was “normalized,” though he now realizes his presence helped burnish Epstein’s reputation.
