Bill Gates has voiced deep regret over his past association with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, describing his time with the convicted sex offender as something he regrets “every minute.”
In an interview, the Microsoft co-founder reflected on his interactions with Epstein, which began in 2011 and centred on potential philanthropic efforts for global health initiatives. “In retrospect, that was a dead end,” Gates admitted, emphasising that the meetings never involved any visits to Epstein’s Caribbean island or arranging relationships with women.
His former wife, Melinda French Gates, commented that the issue raises lingering questions for her ex-husband. “Those questions are for those people and for even my ex-husband,” she told US National Public Radio, referencing the continued public scrutiny.
The remarks come after the US Justice Department released a new batch of documents, including an unsent draft email from Epstein containing serious allegations against Gates. The draft claimed Epstein had facilitated extramarital affairs involving Gates. Gates, however, dismissed the claims, telling 9News Australia that the email “was never sent” and is “false.” A spokesperson for Gates reiterated that the documents merely reflected “Epstein’s frustration that he did not have an ongoing relationship with Gates.”
Melinda French Gates described the document release as personally difficult. “It’s personally hard whenever those details come up,” she said, alluding to the painful memories linked to their marriage, which officially ended in divorce in 2021.
The released files contain emails between Epstein and numerous prominent figures, revealing various personal and financial connections. Officials stress that the appearance of a person’s name in the documents does not indicate wrongdoing.
Epstein died by suicide in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial. His activities and networks continue to draw global attention, with new revelations from these documents reigniting scrutiny of his past associates.
