WASHINGTON
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates told CNN he had a misguided view that convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein could help his philanthropic work, calling the relationship a "gigantic mistake."
Gates spoke in his first interview since testifying before the U.S. House Oversight Committee, where he acknowledged meeting with Epstein on roughly 30 occasions between 2011 and 2014 before cutting off all contact.
Gates said he did not have a social relationship with Epstein and did not meet any women through the financier. "I'm very apologetic that I gave him any credibility at all," Gates said.
He acknowledged knowing about Epstein's 2008 conviction for solicitation of prostitution and solicitation of prostitution with a minor, but said he did not fully understand the severity of the crimes at the time. "I accepted the introduction without applying the scrutiny I should have," Gates said in his testimony.
When pressed on reports that Epstein sought to blackmail him, Gates said he was unaware of any such plans. According to media reports of Gates' testimony, Epstein attempted to gather information about Gates' extramarital affairs in an effort to compel continued contact.
Documents released by the Department of Justice as part of the Epstein Files alleged Gates contracted a sexually transmitted infection from an unidentified Russian woman. Gates denied the claim, calling it "absurd and completely false."
"I didn't know that he was considering blackmailing me," Gates said. "He never did blackmail me, but it just shows how foolish I was to spend time with him."
Gates has never faced accusations of wrongdoing from any of Epstein's victims.
The association with Epstein has been cited as a factor in the breakdown of Gates' marriage to Melinda Gates, whom he wed in 1994. The couple finalized their divorce in August 2021, with Gates paying his former wife $8 billion. In a 2025 interview with The Times, Gates referred to the divorce as "the mistake I most regret."
