Gates admits error over Epstein meetings

Bill Gates apologised to employees of the Gates Foundation for his past meetings with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, telling staff he “took responsibility for his actions” while maintaining he saw nothing illicit during their interactions.

A spokesperson for the philanthropic organisation confirmed that Gates addressed the issue during a town hall meeting, acknowledging that his association with Epstein had caused harm to the foundation’s reputation and distress among staff. The spokesperson said Gates expressed regret for the judgment that led him to meet Epstein on multiple occasions and reiterated that the encounters were a mistake.

Gates, who co-founded Microsoft and later established one of the world’s largest charitable foundations with Melinda French Gates, has faced sustained scrutiny over contacts with Epstein following the financier’s arrest in 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges. Epstein died in a New York jail that year while awaiting trial. His earlier conviction in Florida in 2008 for procuring a minor for prostitution had already drawn public condemnation and raised questions about those who continued to associate with him.

According to accounts previously reported in major international media, Gates met Epstein several times beginning in 2011, years after Epstein’s conviction. Meetings reportedly took place at Epstein’s Manhattan townhouse and involved discussions about philanthropy and global health initiatives. Gates has said in earlier interviews that he believed Epstein might help secure additional funding for charitable causes, a calculation he later described as misguided.

During the internal meeting, Gates sought to reassure foundation staff that there was no impropriety linked to the foundation’s work and that he had not witnessed any unlawful behaviour during his interactions with Epstein. The spokesperson said Gates acknowledged that his decision to meet Epstein demonstrated poor judgment and that he understood the disappointment felt by colleagues.

Controversy over the relationship intensified in the aftermath of Gates’ divorce from Melinda French Gates in 2021. In media interviews at the time, Melinda French Gates described the meetings with Epstein as deeply troubling and said she had made clear her disapproval. Gates himself characterised the association as a significant error, stating publicly that he “made a mistake in judgment” and that there was no ongoing relationship after he realised Epstein could not contribute meaningfully to philanthropic efforts.

Foundation officials have long stressed that Epstein never had any formal role within the organisation, nor did he receive funding from it. Internal reviews have not indicated any financial ties between the foundation and Epstein’s network. Nonetheless, governance experts have noted that reputational risk can arise even in the absence of formal partnerships, particularly for high-profile philanthropies operating in sensitive global health and development sectors.

Founded in 2000, the Gates Foundation commands an endowment exceeding $60 billion and plays a central role in financing vaccine distribution, infectious disease research and poverty alleviation programmes across Africa and Asia. Its influence expanded during the Covid-19 pandemic through funding for vaccine development and equitable access initiatives. With that prominence has come heightened scrutiny of leadership decisions and personal conduct.

Ethics specialists argue that philanthropic institutions increasingly face expectations similar to those applied to publicly traded companies, especially regarding transparency and accountability. Associations with individuals later exposed as serial offenders can undermine stakeholder confidence even if no direct wrongdoing occurred within the organisation itself. Staff morale can also be affected, particularly among younger employees who expect clear ethical boundaries.

Gates stepped down from the Microsoft board in 2020 and from the board of Berkshire Hathaway the same year, stating that he intended to focus on philanthropy. Since then, he has concentrated on global health, climate innovation and education reform, while also publishing books on pandemic preparedness and clean energy. Public appearances have continued to draw questions about Epstein, indicating the issue remains a reputational challenge.