Bill Gates and staff at his charitable foundation engaged in approximately 30 meetings with Jeffrey Epstein between 2011 and 2014 to discuss the establishment of a donor-advised fund for public health initiatives. An external review conducted by the law firm WilmerHale found that foundation employees on multiple occasions alerted senior leadership, including Gates, to the risks of associating with Epstein, citing his prior conviction for soliciting underage sex.
Despite these warnings, the review, which included over 50 interviews with current and former foundation staffers, found no evidence of illegal conduct during these meetings. The discussions primarily revolved around the feasibility of a donor-advised fund to support global public health.
According to the executive summary of the review, Gates was aware of Epstein's 2008 Florida conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor when their conversations began in 2011. The meetings included several visits to Epstein's Manhattan townhouse and one meeting on the Gates Foundation campus.
Gates ultimately severed ties with Epstein in 2014, stating at a town hall in February that he realized the proposed public health fund would not materialize. The review attributes this fallout to a meeting at Epstein's Manhattan residence that December, which involved Gates, foundation staff, and potential donors. Gates concluded that Epstein had misrepresented donor willingness to contribute, leading the foundation to cease work on the concept.
During this period, Epstein also facilitated introductions between Gates and other individuals. In 2012, Epstein introduced Gates to Terje Rød-Larsen, then president of the International Peace Institute. The Gates Foundation later established a grant agreement with the International Peace Institute in 2013 for polio eradication efforts. Rød-Larsen resigned in 2020 due to his connections with Epstein.
Gates has previously stated that he made a "grave error in judgment" by meeting with Epstein and has repeatedly denied any knowledge of or participation in Epstein's crimes. His ex-wife, Melinda French Gates, has cited the association as a contributing factor to their divorce.
The Gates Foundation initiated its own investigation into its associations with Epstein after the financier's name appeared in documents released by the Justice Department in connection with its probe into Epstein's activities.
In a statement, Gates Foundation CEO Mark Suzman announced that the board unanimously approved measures to strengthen vetting processes and risk management. He emphasized the foundation's commitment to integrity and trust, stating that the findings of the review would lead to enhanced oversight and accountability. Gates echoed this sentiment, calling the review's completion an important step in providing clarity and reinforcing the foundation's commitment to trust and transparency.
WilmerHale's review did not encompass Gates' personal communications or Epstein's interactions with Gates in a personal capacity. The release of these findings follows news that Warren Buffett, a significant donor to the Gates Foundation, omitted it from his annual donations this year, a decision he attributed to his children's readiness to manage his fortune rather than Gates' association with Epstein.