Bill Gates spoke openly about his past personal conduct and his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during a town hall meeting with staff at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
The session was part of Gates’ regular twice-yearly meetings with foundation employees and covered a range of topics, including artificial intelligence initiatives, global health programs, and organizational strategy.
Taking responsibility
According to a foundation spokesperson, Gates responded to staff-submitted questions and addressed concerns directly.
“In the town hall, Bill spoke candidly, addressing several questions in detail, and took responsibility for his actions,” the spokesperson said, noting that the discussion included questions about the release of Epstein-related files and the foundation’s future work in AI and global health.
Admission of past affairs
During the meeting, Gates acknowledged having two extra-marital affairs in the 2010s with Russian women — one a bridge player he met at events and the other a nuclear physicist he encountered through business activities.
He told staff that he had done “nothing illicit” and said he did not witness any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein.
“I saw nothing illicit,” Gates said, while describing his decision to spend time with Epstein as a “huge mistake.”
“To be clear, I never spent any time with the victims, the women around him,” he added.
No accusations of wrongdoing
The 70-year-old philanthropist has not been accused of any criminal wrongdoing by victims linked to Epstein. He apologized to foundation staff for drawing them into controversy due to what he described as poor judgment.
Gates explained that his meetings with Epstein were intended to explore potential philanthropic partnerships and expand donor networks, though he has previously acknowledged that the association damaged his reputation.
The town hall underscores Gates’ effort to address internal concerns directly while reinforcing the foundation’s continued focus on global health and emerging technologies.
