Bill Gates Breaks Silence on Jeffrey Epstein Connection: “Every Minute I Regret”

Gates Addresses Allegations Following DOJ Document Release

In his first public statement since the Department of Justice released nearly three million pages of documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, Microsoft founder Bill Gates has acknowledged his “foolish” decision to spend time with the disgraced financier. Speaking to 9News Australia in an interview conducted during his visit to the country and broadcast on Wednesday, the 70-year-old billionaire philanthropist addressed allegations contained in the massive document dump, categorically denying any wrongdoing while expressing deep regret for his association with Epstein. The interview comes at a particularly sensitive time, as renewed scrutiny of Epstein’s connections to powerful figures has placed Gates and other wealthy individuals back in the spotlight, forcing them to confront questions about their relationships with a man now synonymous with sexual exploitation and abuse.

The latest release of documents by the DOJ included draft emails that Epstein reportedly wrote to himself in 2013, which contained unsubstantiated claims about Gates. Addressing these allegations head-on, Gates was unequivocal in his denial: “Apparently, Jeffrey wrote an email to himself. That email was never sent. The email is false,” he stated firmly. “So, I don’t know what his thinking was there. It just reminds me that every minute I spent with him, I regret, and I apologize I did that.” This statement marks a more explicit acknowledgment of regret than Gates has previously offered regarding his connection to Epstein, suggesting that the weight of public scrutiny and the release of additional documents has prompted a more forthcoming response from the tech mogul. A spokesperson for Gates went even further, describing the claims in the documents as “absolutely absurd and completely false,” adding that the documents merely demonstrate “Epstein’s frustration that he did not have an ongoing relationship with Gates and the lengths he would go to entrap and defame.”

Ex-Wife Melinda French Gates Says Questions Should Be Answered

The timing of Gates’s interview is significant, coming just as his ex-wife, Melinda French Gates, spoke publicly about the matter in an interview with NPR’s Wild Card podcast scheduled to air on Thursday. In excerpts released ahead of the broadcast, French Gates made clear that she believes those named in the Epstein files—including her former husband—need to address the questions surrounding their associations with the convicted sex offender. “Whatever questions remain there … those questions are for those people, and for even my ex-husband. They need to answer to those things, not me,” she said, creating a clear boundary between herself and the controversy while also calling for accountability from those involved.

French Gates, who finalized her divorce from Bill Gates in 2021 after 27 years of marriage, revealed that the latest document release had brought back memories of “some very, very painful times” in her marriage. She has previously indicated that her ex-husband’s relationship with Epstein was among multiple factors that contributed to her decision to end their marriage, though she has emphasized it was not the sole reason. The couple, who built one of the world’s most influential philanthropic organizations together through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, have continued to work on charitable endeavors even after their separation, though French Gates has increasingly established her own independent philanthropic identity through Pivotal Ventures. Her willingness to speak publicly about this painful chapter demonstrates both her desire to distance herself from the controversy and her belief that those with connections to Epstein should be transparent about the nature of those relationships.

Gates Explains the Origins of His Relationship with Epstein

In his interview with 9News Australia, Gates provided details about how his relationship with Epstein began and what he claims was the purpose of their association. According to Gates, he first met Epstein in 2011, notably after Epstein had already been convicted in Florida in 2008 for soliciting prostitution from a minor—a fact that has drawn criticism from many who question why Gates would associate with someone with such a criminal background. Gates explained that he believed Epstein could serve as a conduit to other wealthy individuals who might be persuaded to donate to the Gates Foundation, which has contributed billions of dollars worldwide toward initiatives aimed at improving health outcomes, alleviating extreme poverty, and advancing gender equality.

“The focus was always he [Epstein] knew a lot of very rich people and he was always saying he could get them to give money to global health,” Gates explained. “You know, in retrospect, that was a dead end, and I was foolish to spend time with him. I was one of many people who regret ever knowing him.” This characterization presents the relationship as purely transactional and philanthropically motivated, though critics have questioned the judgment of someone as experienced and well-connected as Gates in believing he needed Epstein’s assistance to access wealthy donors. The explanation also raises questions about the due diligence performed by Gates and his team before entering into any kind of business or philanthropic relationship with someone who had already faced serious criminal charges involving the exploitation of minors.

Gates Denies Specific Allegations and Visits to Epstein’s Island

Addressing specific allegations that have circulated both in the newly released documents and in public discourse over the years, Gates was explicit in his denials. “It’s factually true that I was only at dinners. I never went to the island, I never met any women,” he stated, referring to Epstein’s private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands, which has been identified as a location where Epstein allegedly sexually exploited dozens of young women and girls. Gates added, “And the more that comes out, the more clear it will be that, although the time was a mistake, it had nothing to do with that kind of behavior.” These denials are important given the serious nature of the allegations against Epstein and the numerous high-profile individuals who have been implicated in various ways in his network of abuse and exploitation.

The categorical nature of Gates’s denials—specifying that he only attended dinners, never visited the island, and never met any of the women associated with Epstein’s criminal activities—appears designed to draw a clear line between his admitted poor judgment in associating with Epstein and any suggestion of involvement in or knowledge of Epstein’s crimes. However, the fact that Gates continued his association with Epstein after the latter’s 2008 conviction has been a source of ongoing criticism. Many observers have questioned how someone in Gates’s position, with access to extensive resources and advisors, could have failed to recognize the risks—both personal and reputational—of maintaining any relationship with someone who had already been convicted of sex crimes involving a minor, regardless of the purported business or philanthropic justifications.

The Broader Context of Epstein’s Network and Gates’s Australian Visit

The release of millions of pages of documents by the Department of Justice represents one of the most extensive disclosures of information related to Jeffrey Epstein’s activities and connections since his death in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. Epstein, who died in what was officially ruled a suicide in a Manhattan jail cell, had cultivated relationships with numerous powerful figures in business, politics, academia, and entertainment over decades. The breadth of his connections and the questions about what various individuals knew about his activities have continued to generate intense public interest and demands for accountability. For Gates and others named in the documents, the releases represent unwelcome reminders of associations they have sought to distance themselves from, bringing renewed scrutiny and forcing public reckonings with past decisions.

Gates was in Australia at the time of the interview partly for vacation and partly representing the Gates Foundation in efforts to encourage the Australian government to increase funding commitments toward eradicating preventable childhood diseases—work that represents the philanthropic mission Gates has emphasized as the motivation for his contact with Epstein. The juxtaposition of Gates’s philanthropic advocacy with questions about his judgment in associating with a convicted sex offender highlights the complex legacy challenges facing someone who has contributed billions to global health and development while also making personal and professional decisions that have drawn legitimate criticism. As more documents continue to emerge and as public interest in Epstein’s network of connections remains high, Gates and others will likely continue facing questions about their associations with Epstein, the extent of their knowledge about his activities, and whether their responses adequately address the serious concerns these relationships raise about judgment, accountability, and the responsibilities of the powerful.