What is the story about?
Bill Gates, the 70-year-old Microsoft co-founder and billionaire philanthropist, told a House committee Wednesday that he deeply regrets ever having a relationship
with Jeffrey Epstein. Gates testified behind closed doors before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, and posted his opening statement publicly on his personal website. He stated clearly that he never saw Epstein commit any crime, and he denied ever victimizing anyone himself. A transcript of the full testimony is expected to be made public within a few days. The committee had questioned Epstein's former longtime executive assistant, Lesley Groff, just one day earlier, according to CNBC.
How the Relationship Started
Gates said he first met Epstein in 2011, three years after Epstein had already pleaded guilty in Florida to soliciting a minor for prostitution. The reason for the meeting, Gates explained, was to explore whether Epstein could help raise money for the Gates Foundation and its global health programs.That fundraising effort went nowhere. No donations ever came through.
Gates acknowledged this plainly: "Based on what I know now, I understand that even if he had delivered the new donors he promised, it would not have justified associating with him."
Epstein Tried to Use Leverage
Gates also revealed that Epstein later attempted to use personal information against him. Specifically, Epstein reportedly tried to use knowledge of Gates' extramarital affair with his then-wife Melinda Gates as leverage to maintain a connection with the billionaire.Gates said he was never interested in a personal friendship with Epstein and never pursued one.
The Damage to His Foundation
One of the sharper moments in Gates' statement was his acknowledgment that the association had put the Gates Foundation's reputation at serious risk. The foundation, one of the largest in the world with an endowment reported at over $70 billion, relies heavily on trust and partnerships to carry out its work in global health."In the work I do, reputation is the basis for developing partnerships that save lives," Gates said. He called meeting Epstein "a grave error in judgement."
He added that Epstein's conduct was completely at odds with everything his foundation stands for, and that he now recognizes Epstein deliberately used connections with well-known and powerful people to build a false image of legitimacy.
A Lesson in Bad Faith
Perhaps the most reflective part of Gates' statement was his admission that his focus on raising money for a cause he believed in had clouded his better judgment."I was so focused on the possibility of raising funds for global health that I allowed that goal to override my better judgment," Gates said. He called it a sobering realization and said it has made him more aware of how people with bad intentions can exploit access and reputation.
Gates said he supports releasing all Epstein-related files and expressed hope that survivors of Epstein's crimes would ultimately receive justice.
Part of a Larger Investigation
Gates is among several high-profile figures who have now testified before the House Oversight Committee about their ties to Epstein. The scrutiny intensified in late 2025 after millions of pages of documents from Department of Justice and congressional investigations into Epstein were released publicly.Gates has not been accused of any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein.
