Bill Gates Acknowledges Mistakes in Epstein Controversy During Town Hall

In a recent town hall meeting, Bill Gates openly discussed his past association with Jeffrey Epstein, acknowledging it as a significant mistake. He expressed regret for involving Gates Foundation executives in meetings with Epstein and clarified that his interactions were strictly philanthropic. Gates also addressed personal matters, including affairs that Epstein discovered, while firmly stating he never engaged with any of Epstein's victims. This candid discussion comes amid ongoing scrutiny, leading Gates to withdraw from a major AI summit in India. Read on to learn more about Gates' reflections and the implications of his past actions.

By Narendra Chaudhary Feb 25, 2026, 11:10 IST

Gates Takes Responsibility for Past Actions

During a recent town hall meeting with employees of the Gates Foundation, Bill Gates expressed his regret regarding his association with the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Gates referred to his decision to engage with Epstein as a significant "mistake" and admitted to involving executives from the Gates Foundation in meetings with Epstein, as reported by a leading newspaper. He stated, "I apologize to other people who are drawn into this because of the mistake that I made." Furthermore, Gates acknowledged having had two affairs with Russian women that Epstein later learned about, clarifying that these relationships did not involve any of Epstein's victims. "I did nothing illicit. I saw nothing illicit," he reassured the staff.

'I Never Engaged with Epstein's Victims'

Documents from the US Department of Justice revealed that Gates and Epstein met multiple times after Epstein's incarceration to discuss philanthropic initiatives. These documents also included images of Gates with women whose identities were obscured. Gates has maintained that his interactions with Epstein were strictly related to philanthropy. He clarified to the foundation's staff that the photos were taken at Epstein's request with his assistants following their meetings. "To be clear, I never spent any time with victims, the women around him," Gates emphasized. A spokesperson for the Gates Foundation confirmed that Gates addressed various topics during the town hall, including the Epstein files. Earlier this month, Gates also withdrew from participating in India's AI Impact Summit shortly before his scheduled keynote, amid the ongoing controversy.