Bill Gates apologizes for affairs with 2 Russian women amid Epstein fallout: 'Just a huge mistake'

WASHINGTON, DC: Billionaire Bill Gates acknowledged during a town hall meeting on Tuesday, February 24, with foundation staff that he had two affairs with Russian women while married to his former wife, Melinda French Gates.

The Microsoft co-founder also addressed his past association with Jeffrey Epstein, apologizing for the controversy surrounding it.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Gates spoke candidly about the issues after emails referencing him were released earlier this year. He maintained that he did not engage in or witness any criminal activity.

Bill Gates acknowledges affairs and calls Epstein link a mistake

During the meeting, Gates confirmed that he had extramarital relationships during his 27-year marriage, which ended in divorce in 2021.

“I did have affairs, one with a Russian bridge player who met me at bridge events, and one with a Russian nuclear physicist whom I met through business activities,” he told the staff.

One of the women, Russian bridge player Mila Antonova, had allegedly previously been reported in connection with Gates. 

Epstein had also referenced alleged affairs in a July 2013 email to Boris Nikolic, Gates’ former science adviser.

In that email, Epstein claimed Gates risked reputational damage and suggested the women could become “overnight sensations.”

The email also included unverified allegations about attempts to conceal a claim that he sought treatment after an intimate encounter, claims that a spokesperson for Gates described as “completely false.” 

Nikolic said certain emails attributed to him were not written at his request or on his behalf.

Gates did not elaborate on the personal details of the relationships but confirmed their existence during the call.

He previously acknowledged that he was “foolish” to spend time with Epstein, saying in an earlier interview that he believed the association could benefit global health philanthropy but that “it failed to do that. It was just a huge mistake.”

Bill Gates defends Epstein meetings and says 'nothing illicit' occurred

Gates told employees he met Epstein in 2011, after Epstein had already pleaded guilty in Florida.

Despite that conviction, Gates said that he continued to meet with Epstein in New York, Germany, France and Washington, though he stated he never visited Epstein’s private island.

“I did nothing illicit. I saw nothing illicit,” Gates said during the town hall. “To be clear, I never spent any time with the victims, the women around him.”

He acknowledged that French Gates had expressed skepticism about the relationship.

“To give her credit, she was always kind of skeptical about the Epstein thing,” he said. Addressing foundation staff, Gates apologized for the fallout from the association.

“I apologize to other people who are drawn into this because of the mistake I made,” he said. “It definitely is the opposite of the values of the Foundation and the goals of the Foundation.”

A spokesperson for the organization said Gates “spoke candidly” during the meeting and “took responsibility for his actions.”

The remarks come amid continued scrutiny over his past interactions with Epstein and renewed attention following the public release of related correspondence.