‘Happy to be away from the muck’: Melinda Gates says Bill Gates must answer to Epstein file claims

Melinda Gates said society is reckoning with Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse, stressing that no girl should ever face what victims endured
UPDATED FEB 4, 2026
Melinda Gates called new documents linking Bill Gates to Jeffrey Epstein 'heartbreaking' but said she has moved on from a painful chapter of her life (Getty Images, Screengrab/Wild Card with Rachel Martin and NPR/YouTube)
Melinda Gates called new documents linking Bill Gates to Jeffrey Epstein 'heartbreaking' but said she has moved on from a painful chapter of her life (Getty Images, Screengrab/Wild Card with Rachel Martin and NPR/YouTube)


DALLAS, TEXAS: In a recent podcast appearance, Melinda Gates expressed profound distress over newly surfaced documents linking her ex-husband, Bill Gates, to the late Jeffrey Epstein.

Melinda described the situation as “heartbreaking,” while emphasizing her relief at having moved on from a painful chapter of her life.

Melinda Gates reacts to Epstein-linked documents

Appearing on NPR’s 'Wild Card' podcast, Melinda Gates addressed the latest batch of Department of Justice documents that mention Bill Gates in connection with the disgraced financier.

When host Rachel Martin asked for her reaction to the recent disclosures, Melinda said that “it is beyond heartbreaking.” She spoke about how serious the abuse was for Epstein’s victims and how deeply these revelations affect society.

WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 15:  Microsoft Corporation Chairman Bill Gates (L) and his wife Melinda attend
Microsoft Corporation Chairman Bill Gates and his ex wife Melinda attend a ceremony presenting them with the 2010 J. William Fulbright Prize for International Understanding at the Library of Congress October 15, 2010 in Washington, DC (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

“I think we're having a reckoning as a society, right? No girl, no girl should ever be put in the situation that they were put in by Epstein and whatever was going on with all of the various people around him,” she remarked.

Melinda Gates opens up about divorce pain

Melinda shared how the public reports affect her personally, saying they remind her of difficult times in her marriage. “It's beyond heartbreaking, right? I remember being those ages those girls were, I remember my daughters being those ages,” she shared.

The philanthropist admitted that the recurring headlines serve as a painful reminder of the internal struggles she faced before her divorce.

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 20:  (L-R) Phoebe Adele Gates, Bill Gates, and Melinda Gates attend the Goa
Phoebe Adele Gates, Bill Gates, and Melinda Gates attend the Goalkeepers 2017, at Jazz at Lincoln Center on September 20, 2017 in New York City (Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation)

“So for me, it’s personally hard whenever those details come up, right, because it brings back memories of some very, very painful times in my marriage,” she explained.

Despite the lingering heaviness of the subject, she was firm about her current state of mind, adding, “But I have moved on from that. I purposely pushed it away and I moved on.”

Melinda Gates says Bill must answer Epstein claims

The documents at the center of the controversy include a 2013 email in which Epstein made graphic, unverified claims regarding Bill Gates’ private life, including allegations of illicit encounters and medical requests.

Melinda was clear about where she believes responsibility for the claims lies, stating that her ex-husband needs “to answer” questions surrounding his past, while noting, “I am so happy to be away from all the muck that was there.”

For his part, Bill has consistently characterized his past meetings with Epstein as a grave error in judgment, maintained they were for charitable purposes, and strongly denied the specific allegations through a spokesperson.

The representative labeled the claims as “absolutely absurd and completely false,” suggesting they were desperate fabrications by a man frustrated by his inability to maintain a relationship with the Microsoft co-founder.

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