“A Huge Mistake:” Bill Gates Regrets Ties to Jeffrey Epstein and Reflects on Divorce

Bill Gates, one of the most recognizable figures in tech and philanthropy, is finally breaking his silence about his controversial ties to the late Jeffrey Epstein. In a candid new interview, Gates calls his decision to associate with the disgraced financier “a huge mistake” and reflects on how it affected his marriage to Melinda French Gates.

“In retrospect, I was foolish to spend any time with him,” the 69-year-old  admitted to The Wall Street Journal. “And he, sort of, got time with various people by spending time with other people. So yes, I think I was quite stupid. I thought it would help me with global health philanthropy. In fact, it failed to do that. It was just a huge mistake.”

Epstein, who was convicted of sex offenses in 2008 and later faced federal charges of sex trafficking minors in 2019, died by suicide in prison in August 2019. His ties to powerful figures like Gates have sparked intense scrutiny. While Gates says he believed the connection might aid his philanthropic efforts, he now views the relationship as a grave error in judgment.

The billionaire also revealed that the scandal made him more cautious about his associations moving forward. When asked if the Epstein controversy has changed his approach to meeting new people, he didn’t mince words. “Definitely,” Gates affirmed. “I mean, are you kidding?”

The Impact on His Marriage

Gates’ meetings with Epstein contributed to the end of his 27-year marriage to Melinda French Gates. In a 2022 interview with CBS Mornings, Melinda cited her ex-husband’s relationship with Epstein as one of the reasons for their split.

“It’s not one thing, it was many things. But I did not like that he’d had meetings with Jeffrey Epstein,” Melinda said. “I made that clear to him.”

Melinda also revealed she had met Epstein “exactly one time” to form her own opinion, but it left her deeply unsettled. “I regretted it from the second I stepped in the door,” she told Gayle King, describing Epstein as “abhorrent” and “evil personified.” She added, “I had nightmares about it afterward. … It was awful, and he was awful.”

Reflecting on Regrets

Gates regrets his association with Epstein and considers his divorce the “biggest mistake” of his life. In an earlier interview, Gates spoke openly about the end of his marriage.

“When Melinda and I met, I was fairly successful but not ridiculously successful—that came during the time that we were together,” Gates said, reflecting on their journey as a couple. “She saw me through a lot. When we got divorced, it was tough, and then she made the decision to leave the foundation—I was disappointed that she took the option to go off.”

As Gates continues to address the controversies and regrets in his life, he seems intent on learning from his mistakes. While he describes his relationship with Epstein and the end of his marriage as failures, he maintains that they’ve shaped him into a more cautious and self-aware person.