Bill Gates Denies Visiting Jeffrey Epstein's Island, Cites 'Grave Error' in Friendship
In an interview, the Microsoft co-founder addressed his past association with the late financier, stating he never visited Epstein's Caribbean property.
Bill Gates has denied ever visiting Jeffrey Epstein's infamous island, a private property in the Caribbean known as 'pedophile island,' where the financier allegedly trafficked and abused underage girls and women. The Microsoft co-founder made the remarks during a recent interview on NBC's Meet the Press, addressing his past ties to the disgraced financier.
Gates appeared visibly uneasy and nervously laughed when discussing his relationship with Epstein, with whom he maintained contact for several years despite Epstein being a registered sex offender. "I never, there were never any women in those meetings, there's nothing financially, I never went to the island or anything like that," Gates stated during the interview with Kristen Welker. He encouraged those curious about his interactions to review information, asserting he was available to answer questions.
In June, Gates testified in a closed-door deposition before the House Oversight Committee regarding his connection to Epstein, recounting approximately 10 meetings over a two-year period. He told Congress after Epstein's death in 2019 that he wished they had never met.
During the Meet the Press interview, Gates also accused Epstein of exploiting their association to enhance his own reputation. "I was told by Jeffrey after I met him that he could help raise billions of dollars for global health... That proved to be a complete dead end," Gates said. "So my spending time with him, like many other people, kind of helped his reputation. You know, that’s very regrettable."
Earlier this year, The Wall Street Journal reported that Gates had confessed to two affairs with Russian women during a private town hall meeting with employees of the Gates Foundation, following the release of emails attributed to Epstein. These alleged revelations emerged in emails Epstein reportedly sent to himself in July 2013.
Melinda French Gates, Gates's ex-wife and co-chair of the Gates Foundation until her resignation in 2024, has also spoken about her encounters with Epstein. In an interview with The Guardian, she described him as 'evil' and recounted her discomfort upon meeting him, emphasizing the importance of trusting one's feelings about individuals.
Gates has consistently denied witnessing any criminal activity by Epstein but has acknowledged that his friendship with the financier was a "grave error in judgment."