Bill Gates Addresses Staff Over Epstein Files and Past Personal Affairs

Bill Gates addressed employees of his foundation during a town hall meeting on Tuesday, February 24, 2026. During the session, he offered a candid Bill Gates Epstein apology. He described his past association with the late sex offender as a “huge mistake.” This meeting follows the recent release of millions of “Epstein files” by the U.S. Department of Justice. These documents reignited public scrutiny over the billionaire’s ties to the financier.

During the meeting, Gates admitted to two extramarital affairs. Both involved Russian women during his marriage to Melinda French Gates. Specifically, he identified one partner as a bridge player named Mila Antonova. He also acknowledged a second affair with a Russian nuclear physicist. While reports previously hinted at these relationships, Gates has now confirmed them directly to his staff. However, he clarified that these relationships did not involve any of Epstein’s victims.

The billionaire spent time addressing his meetings with Epstein. These meetings began in 2011, well after Epstein’s 2008 conviction. Gates admitted to flying on private jets and meeting the financier in cities like New York and Paris. “I did nothing illicit. I saw nothing illicit,” Gates stated. He explained that photos from the new document dump simply showed assistants or business associates. He maintained that he never spent time with the women around Epstein.

The fallout from these revelations has impacted the foundation’s operations. Earlier this month, Gates withdrew from an AI summit in India. He wanted to ensure the controversy did not overshadow the event. During the town hall, he expressed deep regret for bringing foundation executives into Epstein’s orbit. He stated that his actions were the “opposite of the values” of the organization. He apologized to everyone drawn into the situation because of his mistake.

Interestingly, released emails suggest that Epstein once tried to use the Antonova affair as leverage. Reports indicate that Epstein demanded reimbursement for Antonova’s coding school tuition in 2017. Many observers view this as a veiled extortion attempt. Gates maintained that he ignored these emails. He eventually cut ties with Epstein in 2014. Despite this, he admitted that he failed to check Epstein’s background properly. He ignored his ex-wife’s serious concerns about the financier in 2013.

In conclusion, the Bill Gates Epstein apology represents an effort to stabilize his foundation’s reputation. By addressing this “cloud,” Gates hopes to refocus attention on global health initiatives. As the transparency review concludes, the tech titan remains firm about his philanthropic goals. He admits his association with Epstein was a “serious error in judgment.” The foundation now looks to move past these personal scandals.

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