Bill Gates has admitted to affairs with two Russian women while publicly addressing his controversial connections to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, offering a rare acknowledgment of personal misjudgment and apologizing to colleagues for the repercussions of his actions.
The Microsoft co-founder made his remarks during a town hall meeting with employees at the Gates Foundation on Tuesday, February 24. According to reports by the Wall Street Journal, Gates described his interactions with Epstein as a “huge mistake,” noting that involving foundation executives in meetings with the convicted sex offender had been inappropriate. “I apologize to other people who are drawn into this because of the mistake that I made,” Gates said, according to a recording cited in the report.
While admitting to two extramarital affairs with Russian women, Gates emphasized that these incidents did not involve any of Epstein’s victims. “I did nothing illicit. I saw nothing illicit,” he told staff. The acknowledgement comes amid intensified public scrutiny over Gates’ repeated meetings with Epstein after Epstein had served a prison sentence.
Previously released U.S. Department of Justice documents indicate Gates met Epstein multiple times, reportedly discussing philanthropic initiatives. The documents also contain photographs of Gates posing with women whose identities have been redacted, with the Wall Street Journal noting that Epstein had requested Gates take these photos with his assistants after meetings.
Gates clarified during the town hall that he never interacted with any of Epstein’s victims and that his involvement was limited to meetings with Epstein himself. A spokesperson for the Gates Foundation confirmed that Gates had “taken responsibility for his actions” and noted that the town hall addressed a range of issues, including questions prompted by the recent release of Epstein-related documents.
The Gates Foundation reiterated that it did not make financial payments to Epstein nor employ him at any point, framing Gates’ interactions as personal misjudgments rather than institutional misconduct.
The admission arrives as Gates faces intensified scrutiny from both the media and public stakeholders. Earlier this month, he withdrew from the India AI Impact Summit, canceling a scheduled keynote appearance. The decision followed the growing attention to his personal and professional associations with Epstein, illustrating the potential reputational consequences of even indirect involvement with high-profile figures accused of criminal misconduct.
Gates’ town hall appears to have been a calculated effort to address the issue openly, striking a balance between personal accountability and the need to reassure foundation staff and the broader philanthropic community. By acknowledging both his personal indiscretions and the misjudgment involved in meeting Epstein, Gates positioned himself as taking responsibility without suggesting criminal involvement.
The events underscore a broader tension faced by prominent philanthropists and public figures: the boundary between personal relationships, professional initiatives, and the scrutiny that accompanies proximity to individuals with controversial pasts. For Gates, the town hall serves not only as a public apology but as a measure to contain reputational damage and reaffirm the ethical standards expected within his foundation.
Gates’ admission highlights how personal behavior can reverberate across professional networks. Foundation staff and external partners must now navigate the intersection of personal conduct, public perception, and organizational integrity. Experts in ethics and nonprofit governance note that transparency, as Gates demonstrated in the town hall, is critical to restoring trust but cannot fully neutralize the reputational impact of past associations.
The Gates case illustrates a complex dynamic: the intersection of high-profile philanthropy, personal decision-making, and the enduring consequences of controversial connections. It also raises questions about the responsibilities of executives to anticipate reputational risks when engaging with figures like Epstein, whose histories carry significant moral and legal implications.
By addressing the affairs candidly and clarifying the boundaries of his interactions with Epstein, Gates attempted to delineate personal failings from institutional risk, setting a precedent for how public figures might confront scrutiny without deflecting responsibility.
