The Shocking Truth Behind Bill Gates And Epstein's Relationship — His Stunning 'Every Minute' Regret Fuels Outrage

Bill Gates has declared profound regret over his past association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, saying he 'regrets every minute' he spent with the disgraced financier, in comments that have intensified public scrutiny and political outrage.

In an interview aired on 4 Feb 2026 with Australia's 9 News Australia, Gates, 70, publicly addressed his relationship with Epstein, which spanned several meetings between 2011 and 2014, and forcefully refuted salacious claims emerging from a massive new release of U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) files linked to Epstein's investigations.

A Reluctant Reckoning with Epstein Files

In his first detailed remarks since a tranche of more than three million pages of Epstein-related materials was published by the DOJ on 30 Jan 2026 under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, Gates described the association with Epstein as a serious misjudgment.

'Every minute I spent with him, I regret,' Gates told political editor Charles Croucher during the 9 News interview, and added: 'I apologise that I did that.'

Gates stated that his interactions with Epstein were limited to dinners and discussions about potential philanthropic fundraising for global health goals, a pursuit he now regards as 'a dead end.'

These comments mark an intensification of Gates' public distancing from Epstein, nearly five years after earlier acknowledgements that meeting with Epstein was a 'mistake', including past remarks to CNN that those dinners were a 'huge mistake' and that they gave credibility to Epstein.

The DOJ's recent release, compelled by the 2025 federal law, includes draft emails and correspondence purportedly written by Epstein himself, some of which invoke unverified and incendiary claims about Gates' private life.

Epstein's files contained an unsent 2013 draft message in which Epstein appeared to allege that Gates had contracted a sexually transmitted disease after encounters arranged by Epstein and sought antibiotics without his then-wife's knowledge.

Gates told 9 News that such emails were 'false' and never sent, and suggested they may have been intended to defame him.

Denial, Damage Control, and Family Fallout

Gates categorically denied any connection between himself and Epstein's criminal activity. He affirmed he never visited Epstein's private Caribbean island, never met women through Epstein, and that his interaction was strictly social and related to fundraising discussions.

His spokesperson echoed these claims, calling the allegations 'absurd and completely false,' and framing the released documents as evidence of Epstein's frustration over their limited relationship.

The renewed spotlight on Gates' association has also drawn public comments from his ex-wife, Melinda French Gates, who, in an NPR interview, said that Gates must answer questions raised by his inclusion in the files, adding that the revelations brought 'very, very painful times' back into her memory and deepened her empathy for Epstein's victims.

French Gates, speaking on NPR's Wild Card podcast on 3 Feb 2026, criticised the conduct of Epstein's network and emphasised the broader human cost of his crimes, while affirming she personally has moved on from her past marriage.

Her comments underline the broader reputational and personal aftermath facing Gates, who divorced French Gates, in 2021 after nearly three decades of marriage.

Legal Context and Public Outrage

The DOJ's release stems from a legal requirement under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, passed by Congress in Nov 2025, that compelled the publication of millions of pages of documents, including emails, videos, and images tied to Epstein's investigations.

While advocates hailed the release as a step toward transparency, the disclosures have likewise prompted political and public controversy. Lawmakers such as Representative Ro Khanna have criticised claims by the DOJ that the release complies fully with the Transparency Act, noting that only a fraction of identified responsive material has been published.

Victims' rights groups and commentators have been alarmed by inadequate redactions and accidental disclosures of personal information, prompting rapid removal of sensitive files by the DOJ.

Within this fraught context, Gates' statements of regret have not quelled criticism. Some legislators have called for subpoenas to compel further testimony from Gates and others named in the documents.

Critics argue that even if allegations in the files are unproven, Gates' decision to engage with Epstein, who had already been convicted of sex offences in 2008, reflected a lapse in judgment unworthy of a global philanthropic leader.

Supporters of Gates counter that mere association does not prove complicity, and emphasise his decades of work in global health and development through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Complex Legacy, Intense Scrutiny

For many, the Gates-Epstein link underscores the complex nexus between wealth, influence, and accountability. Epstein cultivated networks among political and economic elites, and the massive release of files has implicated numerous public figures who vehemently deny any criminal conduct.

Gates' remarks represent one of the most direct acknowledgements from a high-profile associate named in the files, but they stop short of addressing every question raised by the documents.

As the broader legal and societal reckoning with Epstein's actions continues, Gates' assertion that he was 'foolish' to spend time with Epstein may be seen as a rare admission of poor judgment, yet it leaves unresolved broader questions about elite networks and responsibility.

Bill Gates' regret, expressed as intensely as possible in public remarks, is likely not the end of scrutiny but rather a catalyst for renewed demands for transparency and accountability among the powerful.