Bill Gates has apologised to staff at his charitable organisation over his past association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to a report published this week.
The Microsoft co-founder made the remarks during a scheduled town hall meeting at the Gates Foundation, where he also admitted to two extramarital affairs.
The comments came after renewed public attention following the US Department of Justice’s release of further Epstein-related documents.
The discussion reportedly took place at the foundation’s latest biannual staff meeting. Gates addressed employees directly, saying he regretted spending time with Epstein and apologised for introducing foundation executives into his orbit.
Why did Bill Gates apologise to staff?
During the town hall, Bill Gates acknowledged that meeting Epstein was a “huge mistake”.
According to reporting by The Wall Street Journal, which cited an audio recording of the event, Gates told staff: “It was a huge mistake to spend time with Epstein. I apologise to other people who are drawn into this because of the mistake that I made.”
He reportedly added, “I did nothing illicit. I saw nothing illicit.”
Bill Gates Last Week:- “Jeffrey Epstein wrote that email to himself about me and Russian Women:”
Bill Gates today:- “I’d like to apologise for my connections with Jeffrey Epstein, I only had two different affairs with Russian women when married, I caught an STD and had to drug… pic.twitter.com/TcjlJjv3ed
— Concerned Citizen (@BGatesIsaPyscho) February 25, 2026
Gates said he met Epstein in 2011, three years after Epstein pleaded guilty in Florida to soliciting a minor for prostitution.
He admitted he had not fully investigated Epstein’s background at the time and was only vaguely aware of what he described as an “18-month thing” restricting his travel.
He confirmed he met Epstein in locations including Germany, France, New York and Washington, and travelled on Epstein’s private jet.
However, he said he never stayed overnight at Epstein’s properties or visited Little St James, Epstein’s private island in the Caribbean.
What did Gates say about introducing foundation executives?
Gates apologised specifically for bringing colleagues into contact with Epstein.
He told staff that doing so conflicted with the values of the foundation, which focuses heavily on global health, poverty reduction and development work.
“It definitely is the opposite of the values of the foundation and the goals of the foundation,” he said.
He also acknowledged the reputational risk: “Our work is very reputation-sensitive. I mean, people can choose to work with us or not work with us.”
A spokesperson for the Gates Foundation confirmed the town hall took place and said Gates “spoke candidly” and “took responsibility for his actions”.
Why has the DOJ document release renewed scrutiny?
The renewed focus follows the latest US Department of Justice document release connected to the Epstein investigation. The files have prompted global media coverage and revived questions around powerful figures who had contact with him.
The latest document release has also brought renewed attention to evidence linked to the investigation, including secret locker contents referenced in the Epstein files, further intensifying public scrutiny around those connected to the case.
While none of the newly released material alleges criminal wrongdoing by Gates, the publicity has intensified scrutiny of past associations.
What role did Melinda Gates play in raising concerns?
Gates admitted that his then-wife, Melinda Gates, had expressed concerns about Epstein as early as 2013.
He said she was “always kind of sceptical about the Epstein thing”, but he continued social contact despite her warning.
The couple divorced in 2021 after 27 years of marriage. Speaking earlier this month on NPR’s Wild Card podcast, Melinda Gates described the renewed attention around the Epstein files as bringing back “very, very painful times”.
When asked about allegations contained in newly released emails, she described her dominant emotion as: “Just unbelievable sadness.”
A spokesperson for Bill Gates has strongly denied specific allegations relating to those documents, calling them “absolutely absurd and completely false”.
Why did Gates initially associate with Epstein?
In his remarks, Gates said he was initially drawn to Epstein because he appeared well-connected to wealthy financiers and business leaders.
He explained that Epstein spoke about close relationships with Wall Street billionaires who could potentially support Gates’ fundraising efforts. That, Gates admitted, made the situation feel “normalised” at the time.
However, he said hindsight had changed his view completely: “Knowing what I know now makes it, you know, a hundred times worse.”
He said he stopped meeting Epstein after 2014 and chose not to respond to later emails.
How has Bill Gates responded publicly before?
This is not the first time Gates has spoken about his links to Epstein.
In a recent interview with Australia’s 9News, he said: “Every minute I spent with him, I regret, and I apologise that I did that.”
He added that he was “foolish to spend time with him” and described himself as “one of many people who regret ever knowing him”.
Unlike several high-profile figures linked to Epstein, Gates has repeatedly addressed the issue publicly and acknowledged poor judgment, while denying any criminal wrongdoing.
What does this mean?
While the Gates Foundation is based in the United States, it plays a major role in UK-backed global health projects, including partnerships with British universities, NHS-linked research bodies, and international development programmes previously supported by the UK Government.
Any reputational damage could affect:
- UK research partnerships
- International development collaborations
- Public trust in large-scale philanthropy
For now, there is no suggestion of criminal action involving Gates. However, the renewed scrutiny shows how closely global charities and their leaders are examined, particularly when their work relies on public trust.
