Bill Gates Acknowledges Past Affair with Russian Woman, Issues Apology to Microsoft Staff

Bill Gates has come forward to acknowledge past affairs with two Russian women, clarifying that these individuals were not associated with Jeffrey Epstein’s victims. This admission was part of Gates’ efforts to address and apologize for his previous connections with the disgraced financier during a recent town hall at the Gates Foundation.

During the meeting, Gates expressed regret over his interactions with Epstein, labeling them as a “huge mistake.” He particularly lamented involving foundation executives in meetings with Epstein, a convicted sex offender. “I apologize to other people who are drawn into this because of the mistake that I made,” Gates stated, as per a recording referenced by the Wall Street Journal.

The report highlighted that Gates had two affairs with Russian women, which Epstein later became aware of. However, Gates emphasized that these relationships did not involve any individuals victimized by Epstein.

In addressing the foundation’s employees, Gates elaborated on the nature of his affairs, mentioning a Russian bridge player he met through bridge events and a Russian nuclear physicist encountered via business activities. With these disclosures, Gates aimed to separate his personal indiscretions from the serious allegations surrounding Epstein.

During the town hall, Gates told employees: ‘I did have affairs, one with a Russian bridge player who met me at bridge events, and one with a Russian nuclear physicist who I met through business activities.’ 

‘I did nothing illicit. I saw nothing illicit,’ he added. ‘To be clear, I never spent any time with the victims, the women around him.’

A spokesperson for the philanthropic organisation confirmed the Microsoft founder had ‘taken responsibility for his actions’. 

Previously released U.S. Department of Justice documents show Gates met Epstein repeatedly after the financier had served a prison sentence, with discussions said to have centred on expanding Gates’ philanthropic work.

The documents also included pictures of the Microsoft founder posing with women whose faces are redacted. 

Russian bridge player Mila Antonova and Bill Gates in a photo she posted to the Contract Bridge Facebook page on August 14, 2009

The new Epstein files included multiple new undated images of Epstein and Gates together

The documents also included pictures of the Microsoft founder posing with women whose faces are redacted

According to the Journal, Gates said that the images were pictures that Epstein asked him to take with Epstein’s assistants after their meetings.

Gates said he began meeting Epstein in 2011, several years after the financier’s 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor. 

He acknowledged he was aware Epstein had been subject to an 18-month period of travel restrictions but admitted he did not properly scrutinise his background. 

He continued seeing him even after his then-wife, Melinda French Gates, raised concerns in 2013. 

‘Knowing what I know now makes it, you know, a hundred times worse in terms of not only his crimes in the past, but now it’s clear there was ongoing bad behavior,’ Gates told staff.

He also told staff he remained in contact with Epstein through 2014, travelled on his private jet and met him in Germany, France, New York and Washington. 

‘I never stayed overnight,’ Gates said, adding that he did not visit Epstein’s private island.

The Journal has previously reported that Epstein later threatened Gates over his relationship with Mila Antonova, the Russian bridge player.

Epstein is said to have met Antonova while seeking financial backing for a bridge academy and later paid for her to attend a software coding course. 

In a 2013 email to a senior Gates adviser, Epstein allegedly referred to two women he claimed Gates had been involved with during his marriage, warning they risked ‘becoming overnight sensations’. 

Gates met Antonova at a bridge tournament in 2010, three years before she is said to have met Epstein. 

He also said the nuclear physicist had worked at one of his companies, although it is unclear whether their relationship overlapped with her employment. 

Boris Nikolic, who had links to both Gates and Epstein, was aware of the relationships and later informed Epstein.

A spokesperson for the Gates Foundation told reporters that Gates held a scheduled town hall with the employees and answered questions on a range of issues, including the release of the Epstein files.

‘In the town hall, Bill spoke candidly, addressing several questions in detail, and took responsibility for his actions.’

The spokesperson also said the Gates Foundation statement acknowledged what was shared by the billionaire during the town hall, and the statement is all that the foundation would say about the report.

Earlier this month, the Gates Foundation said it did not make any financial payments to Epstein or employ him at any time.

The billionaire also pulled out of India’s AI Impact Summit hours before his scheduled keynote last week.

The Gates Foundation, chaired by Bill Gates and started by him and his then-wife in 2000, is one of the world’s biggest funders of global health initiatives.