Bill Gates Addresses Epstein Ties at Gates Foundation Town Hall

In a recent town hall meeting, Bill Gates openly discussed his past connections with Jeffrey Epstein, acknowledging mistakes that affected his philanthropic reputation. He expressed regret over his associations and emphasized that he did not partake in Epstein's crimes. Gates also revealed relationships with two Russian women that raised questions about his conduct. Amidst ongoing scrutiny following the release of Justice Department documents, he withdrew from speaking at the India AI Impact Summit to keep the focus on the event's priorities. This situation has drawn significant media attention, especially regarding its impact on Gates's personal life and marriage.

By Narendra Chaudhary Feb 26, 2026, 13:16 IST

Bill Gates Discusses Epstein Connections

On Tuesday, American entrepreneur Bill Gates spoke about his connections with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during a town hall meeting for his nonprofit organization, the Gates Foundation. Gates acknowledged his responsibility for his actions, as stated by a spokesperson for the foundation, who noted that he openly addressed various questions.

During the meeting, Gates apologized to his staff but emphasized that he did not believe he had done anything wrong.

Admissions Regarding Russian Women

In a report published by the Wall Street Journal, the Microsoft co-founder admitted to having relationships with two Russian women and acknowledged mistakes that brought his philanthropic group's reputation into question. However, he insisted that he did not participate in Epstein's crimes.

Documents related to the Epstein case released by the U.S. Department of Justice frequently mention Gates.

Details from Justice Department Files

The Justice Department's files include email correspondence between Gates and Epstein regarding charitable projects, calendar entries indicating their meeting dates, and photographs of Gates at events attended by both individuals. Gates has not been accused of any wrongdoing related to Epstein and has denied having any knowledge of Epstein's crimes.

He stated that he met with Epstein to discuss philanthropic efforts and believed Epstein could assist in raising funds for global health issues.

Regret Over Past Associations

Earlier this month, Gates expressed regret over every moment spent with Epstein in an interview with Australia's 9News, apologizing for those associations. Last month, the Justice Department released millions of documents related to Epstein, which drew significant attention to Gates's name and images.

Last week, Gates withdrew from speaking at the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi to ensure that the focus remained on the summit's primary objectives. Melinda French Gates separated from the Gates Foundation in 2024 and has since focused on philanthropic efforts through Pivotal Ventures. When asked about her ex-husband's ties to Epstein, Melinda stated that he would need to answer for those associations. Both Gates and French Gates have indicated that his connections with Epstein caused issues in their marriage.