Bill Gates recently told staff at the Gates Foundation that he had two extramarital affairs with Russian women—one he met at bridge events and another, a nuclear physicist, through business contacts—while speaking at a town‑hall on February 24, 2026. He said the affairs were unrelated to Jeffrey Epstein’s victims and that he “did nothing illicit” during those encounters.
The admission came as part of a broader apology for his past ties to Epstein, which Gates called a “huge mistake.” He acknowledged meeting Epstein multiple times after 2011, flying on his private jet, and bringing foundation executives into those meetings, but he denied ever staying overnight on Epstein’s island or spending time with Epstein’s victims.
Gates’ comments were prompted by the release of thousands of Justice Department documents—often called the “Epstein files”—which contain draft emails and other material linking him to Epstein and mentioning the affairs. He said the newly disclosed emails have cast a shadow over the foundation’s reputation, and he apologized to anyone “drawn into this because of the mistake that I made.”
