Bill Gates became the target of rumors about his affairs with two Russian women and suggested that financier Jeffrey Epstein wanted to blackmail him. The founder of Microsoft expressed regret to his colleagues at the charitable foundation regarding his interactions with Epstein, who was convicted of sexual crimes, and acknowledged having extramarital relationships.
In an interview, the 70-year-old Gates admitted: "I had affairs with two women: one was a Russian bridge player I met at tournaments, and the other was a nuclear physicist I encountered through work."
He also expressed the opinion that Epstein might have been aware of his intrigues and used that information for blackmail. In the so-called "Epstein files," a draft email written in 2013 was found, which was never sent. In this email, Epstein claims that he provided Gates with medication to help deal with "the consequences of sex with Russian girls," hinting at possible infections.
Additionally, Epstein wrote: "Bill risks becoming not only the richest man but also the greatest hypocrite, and Melinda (Gates' ex-wife) a laughingstock," emphasizing that two women could quickly attract public attention. The Gates' marriage ended in divorce in 2021 after 27 years together.
Gates also acknowledged that he continued to communicate with Epstein after 2011, when Epstein had already been convicted of soliciting minors for prostitution. At the same time, he added that he did not commit or see anything illegal in their communication.
