Epstein Used Bill Gates' Affairs as Blackmail — How the Disgraced Financier Controlled One of the World's Richest Men

One of the world's richest men kept secrets. A convicted sex offender found out. And for years, that information became a tool.

Bill Gates confirmed on Tuesday that he had two extramarital affairs, both with Russian women. He told staff at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation that Jeffrey Epstein later discovered these relationships — and, according to documents and prior reporting, used them against him.

'I did have affairs, one with a Russian bridge player who met me at bridge events, and one with a Russian nuclear physicist who I met through business activities,' Gates said during a town hall, according to The Wall Street Journal. He added: 'It was a huge mistake to spend time with Epstein.'

The admission comes weeks after the US Department of Justice released 3 million pages of Epstein-related documents on 30 January under the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

How Epstein Got the Information

Here's where it gets uncomfortable for Gates. His own adviser handed Epstein the ammunition.

Boris Nikolic, Gates' former science adviser, introduced Russian bridge player Mila Antonova to Epstein in 2013. She was looking for funding for a bridge tutorial business. Epstein passed on the investment but paid for her software coding school instead.

Then came the ask. In 2017, Epstein emailed Gates demanding reimbursement for the tuition, according to the Wall Street Journal. The message carried an unmistakable threat: he knew about the affair.

In a July 2017 email to Nikolic, Epstein mocked how Gates treated his 'former bridge girl and toy,' writing that she was broke and sleeping on a friend's sofa. 'That story would take Trump off the front pages,' Epstein wrote, according to documents reviewed by multiple outlets.

The files also show Epstein pushed his way into Nikolic's departure negotiations from Gates' private office. He wasn't subtle about what he knew.

Unverified Claims in Draft Emails

The Justice Department documents include two draft emails Epstein sent to himself in July 2013. These contain unverified allegations that Gates caught a sexually transmitted infection from 'Russian girls' and sought to secretly give antibiotics to his then-wife, Melinda.

A spokesperson for Gates called the claims 'absolutely absurd and completely false,' telling NPR the documents 'demonstrate Epstein's frustration that he did not have an ongoing relationship with Gates and the lengths he would go to entrap and defame.'

Why This Matters Beyond the Headlines

For anyone tracking how powerful people stay protected or get exposed, this case shows the mechanics. Epstein gathered private information. He created financial ties. Then he waited.

Gates told the foundation staff that he met Epstein from 2011 to 2014. He flew on his private jet. He spent time with him in Germany, France, New York, and Washington. But Gates insists he never stayed overnight with Epstein or visited his private island.

'I did nothing illicit. I saw nothing illicit,' Gates said. 'To be clear, I never spent any time with victims, the women around him.'

He also praised his ex-wife during the town hall, noting Melinda 'was always kind of skeptical about the Epstein thing.'

'Unbelievable Sadness'

Melinda French Gates, who finalised her divorce from Gates in 2021 after 27 years, addressed the scandal earlier this month on NPR's Wild Card podcast.

'For me, it's personally hard whenever those details come up, right? Because it brings back memories of some very, very painful times in my marriage,' she said.

When asked about the allegations, her response was simple: 'Unbelievable sadness.'

She added that whatever questions remain, they're for her ex-husband to answer. 'I am so happy to be away from all the muck that was there.'

The Gates Foundation confirmed its chair 'took responsibility for his actions' during the town hall.

One of the world's richest men kept secrets. Now, millions of pages later, the questions belong to him.