Bill Gates Admits His 'Stupid' Mistake With Jeffrey Epstein

Bill Gates, September, 2024. Photo by Lula Oficial under CC BY-SA 2.0.

Bill Gates has regrets — big ones — about the time he spent with Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier who was accused of running a sex trafficking ring involving underage girls before dying in jail in 2019. In a candid January 2025 interview with The Wall Street Journal, Gates admitted, "I was foolish to spend any time with him ... I think I was quite stupid," as reported by PEOPLE.

A Billionaire's Bad Judgment

Gates met with Epstein multiple times starting in 2011, well after Epstein had pleaded guilty to sex crimes involving minors. The Microsoft co-founder initially believed Epstein could help secure funding for global health initiatives. That never happened. Instead, the association became a major stain on Gates' reputation.

Gates has tried to downplay the connection for years. In 2021, he told CNN's Anderson Cooper, "It was a huge mistake to spend time with him, to give him the credibility of being there." That same year, during an interview with Australia's ABC 7.30, Gates shut down further discussion, saying, "I shouldn't have had dinners with him," as reported by CNN.

Epstein, an Alleged Affair, and a Failed Power Play

Gates' ties to Epstein didn't just tarnish his public image — they also played a role in his divorce. PEOPLE reported that Gates' wife Melinda had long been uneasy about her husband's relationship with Epstein. In 2023, The Wall Street Journal revealed an even messier detail: Epstein allegedly tried to leverage Gates' alleged affair with Russian bridge player Mila Antonova to pressure him into financial dealings, as reported by PEOPLE.

The WSJ reported that Epstein emailed Gates in 2017, demanding reimbursement for Antonova's coding school tuition — a move widely interpreted as a veiled threat. Gates didn't bite, and according to PEOPLE, his spokesperson later clarified, "Mr. Gates never had any financial dealings with Epstein."

A Lesson (Finally) Learned

If Gates could turn back time, he says he'd skip those meetings entirely. In his Wall Street Journal interview, he acknowledged that the fallout made him rethink how he builds connections. When asked if he'd become more cautious, he reportedly laughed and said, "Definitely. I mean, are you kidding?" as reported by PEOPLE.

The damage, however, is done. His association with Epstein continues to haunt him, and whether the public is ready to move on remains to be seen.

References: Bill Gates Addresses Ties with Sex Offender Jeffrey Epstein: 'I Was Foolish to Spend Any Time with Him' | Bill Gates says he shouldn't have had dinners with Jeffrey Epstein | Bill Gates on His Meeting With Trump, Musk's DOGE, His Childhood | Bill Gates says he regrets the time spent with Jeffrey Epstein: 'It was a huge mistake' | Jeffrey Epstein Appeared to Threaten Bill Gates Over Microsoft Co-Founder's Affair With Russian Bridge Player