Bill Gates finally admitted to extramarital affairs with Russian women and apologized for his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, raising serious questions about the judgment and moral character of one of the world’s most influential billionaires who has shaped global health policy for years.
Story Highlights
- Gates confirmed two affairs with Russian women during a foundation town hall, validating rumors exposed in newly released Epstein case files
- The Microsoft co-founder maintained close ties with Epstein from 2011-2014 despite Epstein’s 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor
- Epstein leveraged knowledge of Gates’ affairs for influence, threatening exposure in 2017 and allegedly seeking reimbursement for funding one affair partner’s education
- Melinda French Gates cited Epstein connections as a factor in their 2021 divorce after expressing concerns about the relationship as early as 2013
Gates Confesses to Affairs During Foundation Meeting
On February 24, 2026, Bill Gates addressed foundation staff in a town hall meeting where he admitted to two extramarital affairs with Russian women. The 70-year-old billionaire confirmed relationships with Russian bridge player Mila Antonova, whom he met at a 2010 tournament, and an unnamed Russian nuclear physicist encountered through business connections. Gates stated he “did nothing illicit” but acknowledged the affairs represented personal failures. The admission came weeks after January 30 Justice Department releases of Epstein case files reignited scrutiny of Gates’ personal conduct and questionable associations with the disgraced financier.
Epstein Exploited Gates’ Secrets for Leverage
Jeffrey Epstein, convicted in 2008 for soliciting prostitution from a minor, strategically positioned himself to exploit Gates’ vulnerabilities. Epstein paid for Antonova’s coding school tuition after Gates’ 2010 encounter with her, later demanding reimbursement from the Microsoft founder. In 2017, after learning about Gates’ affair from former science adviser Boris Nikolic, Epstein threatened to expose the relationship while inserting himself into negotiations around Nikolic’s departure from Gates’ office. This pattern reveals Epstein’s calculated manipulation of powerful figures, using personal secrets as currency to maintain access and influence among elite circles despite his criminal record.
Foundation Credibility Faces Serious Questions
Gates’ relationship with Epstein began in 2011—three years after Epstein’s conviction—supposedly for philanthropy discussions. Between 2011 and 2014, Gates participated in multiple meetings, dinners, and international flights aboard Epstein’s private jet to Germany, France, New York, and Washington. Melinda French Gates expressed concerns about these associations by 2013, and subsequently cited them as contributing factors in their 2021 divorce. For Americans who value accountability and moral leadership, the revelation that Gates normalized a convicted sex offender for years while wielding enormous influence over global health policy through his foundation raises fundamental concerns about judgment and priorities among unelected billionaire elites.
The newly released Justice Department files contain unverified allegations including claims that Epstein arranged “sex with Russian girls” for Gates and concealed potential STD-related incidents, which Gates denies. However, the documented pattern of Gates maintaining close personal ties with a known predator, coupled with Epstein’s documented attempts at blackmail using affair knowledge, demonstrates staggering lapses in judgment. Gates apologized to foundation staff and executives, acknowledging that spending time with Epstein was a “huge mistake.” Yet this belated contrition does little to address why a billionaire with vast resources and advisers chose to cultivate a relationship with Epstein years after his criminal conviction became public knowledge.
Elite Networks and Accountability Deficit
This scandal illuminates broader problems with concentrated power in unelected philanthropic institutions. Gates has shaped international health policy, vaccine distribution, and agricultural programs affecting millions worldwide through his foundation, yet his judgment appears severely compromised by his willingness to associate with Epstein despite clear red flags. The episode reinforces concerns many conservatives have raised about billionaire influence operating outside democratic accountability structures. When individuals like Gates wield influence comparable to nation-states while maintaining associations with convicted criminals, questions about who truly holds power and who guards the guardians become unavoidable for citizens concerned with transparent governance and traditional values of integrity.
Report: Bill Gates admits affairs with Russian women, apologizes for Epstein ties
Gates told staff he met Epstein after his 2008 conviction, flew on his jet and denies wrongdoing or DOJ email claimshttps://t.co/p95cLay9Ef pic.twitter.com/DwswkIZHtC
— Ynet Global (@ynetnews) February 25, 2026
The foundation now faces potential donor concerns and staff morale issues as the full scope of Gates’ Epstein connections becomes public. For Americans tired of double standards where elites operate by different rules than ordinary citizens, this revelation serves as another reminder that wealth and influence too often shield individuals from the accountability that family values and constitutional principles demand. Gates maintains he engaged in no criminal activity and never met Epstein’s victims, but his repeated poor judgment and the leverage Epstein gained through knowing Gates’ secrets reveal character issues that cannot be dismissed with simple apologies to staff members.
Sources:
Bill Gates Admits To 2 Affairs, Apologizes Over Epstein Ties: Report – iHeartRadio





