Bill Gates regrets 'foolish' Jeffrey Epstein association, calls it a huge mistake

Bill Gates admits meeting Jeffrey Epstein was a mistake, saying it failed to help his philanthropy goals.

Bill Gates has publicly discussed his past meetings with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, admitting that it was “a huge mistake” to spend time with him.

In a recent interview with The Wall Street Journal published on January 24, Gates expressed regret over their interactions, which he initially thought might help further his global health philanthropy efforts. Gates acknowledged that he was "foolish" to meet with Epstein, explaining that it was a failed attempt to leverage Epstein’s connections to benefit his charitable work.

Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, had previously been linked to various influential figures, including Gates and Trump.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Epstein had threatened to expose Gates for an alleged affair with a Russian bridge player while Gates was still married to Melinda French Gates. This was reportedly part of Epstein’s failed attempts to gain financial support from Gates for a charitable fund that never materialized.

Gates has repeatedly distanced himself from Epstein, emphasizing that their relationship was never based on business dealings or friendship. A spokesperson for Gates clarified in 2023 that Gates only met with Epstein for philanthropic purposes and that Epstein tried to leverage past relationships for personal gain.

In 2021, Gates spoke on CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360 about his regrets, calling the time spent with Epstein a “huge mistake.” He noted that his hope to secure philanthropic funding from Epstein’s contacts never materialized, which led to the end of their relationship.

Gates’s comments continue to reflect his regret over the association, which he now views as a significant misjudgment.