Bill Gates Breaks Silence On Another 'Huge Mistake' Involving Jeffrey Epstein

Bill Gates is not holding back regarding his biggest regrets, openly admitting his ties with Jeffrey Epstein were a "huge mistake."

This comes on the heels of the billionaire revealing his most significant regret—his 2021 divorce from Melinda Gates, which resulted in a billion-dollar settlement.

Bill Gates and his ex-wife, Melinda Gates, went their separate ways after 27 years of marriage. 

The tech mogul reflected on the decision to form a relationship with the late disgraced financier, acknowledging the lasting consequences of their association. 

In a revealing interview, the 69-year-old admitted he was "foolish" to spend time with the late convicted sex offender. Gates had initially hoped their connection would benefit his global health philanthropy efforts, but as he revealed:

"In fact, it failed to do that it was just a huge mistake."

Gates' life became embroiled in scandal after his association with Epstein, which only intensified over time. 

The Wall Street Journal reported in 2023 that Epstein had allegedly threatened to expose Gates for an affair with a Russian bridge player, Mila Antonova, in 2017 while he was still married to Melinda French Gates.

Epstein even demanded reimbursement for sending Antonova to a software coding school. Reflecting on whether these controversies impacted his approach to relationships, Gates told WSJ, "Definitely. I mean, are you kidding?"

Regarding the controversy, a spokesperson for Gates told PEOPLEthen that "Mr. Gates met with Epstein solely for philanthropic reasons." The statement also acknowledged Epstein's attempts to leverage past relationships to threaten Gates, adding:

"Mr. Gates never had any financial dealings with Epstein. As Bill has said before, it was a mistake to have ever met him."

Gates reportedly first encountered Epstein after he had already served jail time for soliciting prostitution involving a minor. Gates' meetings with the late convicted sex offender, who had a known history of crimes, were reportedly a point of tension in his marriage to Melinda Gates. A PEOPLE source revealed:

"Epstein is definitely a sore spot. That's a long time for issues to fester."

Gates has had a rich and eventful life, which naturally comes with its share of regrets. However, prior to his recent revelation about Epstein, he shared that his biggest regret was his divorce from Melinda. 

The Blast reported that while speaking with The Sunday Times, Gates revealed that despite facing other challenges, the pain of their divorce stands above all. Describing it as "the mistake I regret the most in my life," Gates added, "There are other mistakes, but this one stands above all."

He acknowledged that the emotional toll of the divorce was felt by both parties, lasting at "least two years." Despite the turmoil, the two have managed to maintain a cordial relationship since the split.

The father-of-three also acknowledged his role in the breakdown of his 27-year marriage, taking responsibility for the pain he caused. 

In a 2022 interview with Savannah Guthrie, Gates admitted to making mistakes, particularly after reports surfaced about an affair with a Microsoft employee. 

"I certainly made mistakes, and I take responsibility," Gates confessed, adding that he felt terrible about the hurt he caused but believed discussing the details was not constructive.

Since their split, both have moved forward in their personal lives. Melinda made headlines in October 2024 when she was seen with entrepreneur Philip Vaughn, sparking a public display of affection in New York City. 

Meanwhile, Bill has been in a relationship with Paula Hurd, the widow of Oracle CEO Mark Hurd, since 2023. 

Gates is not the only one reflecting on their divorce—Melinda previously shared her perspective, and it was eye-opening. While discussing the reasons behind their split, she specifically called out Gates' controversial connection to Epstein. Speaking with Gayle King, she said:

"I did not like that he had meetings with Jeffrey Epstein. no. I made that clear to him. He was abhorrent. He was evil personified." 

Melinda made it clear that his association with Epstein played a role in the breakdown of their marriage. Reflecting on the painful decision in another interview, Melinda also described their divorce as the "lowest moment" of her life. 

She recalled the day she realized their marriage was over, calling it a "sad day" but also the "healthier choice" for both of them.

Bill Gates' reflection on personal and professional errors shows how these past decisions continue to impact his life today.