The late financier Jeffrey Epstein has been at the center of numerous scandals involving influential individuals from various industries. The latest twist in this ongoing saga involves Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. The Wall Street Journal has reported that Epstein threatened to expose an alleged affair between Gates and a Russian woman. These revelations shed further light on the complex web of connections between Epstein and wealthy individuals.
According to the Wall Street Journal’s sources, Gates reportedly met a woman in her 20s who was involved in bridge playing around 2010. Epstein later encountered her in 2013 when she sought funding for an online bridge tutorial platform, which led to Epstein sponsoring her attendance at a software programming boot camp. The affair between Gates and the woman apparently ended in 2017.
Epstein, a convicted sex offender, then sent an email to Gates requesting reimbursement for the boot camp expenses. The email was described as containing an implicit threat, suggesting that Epstein would reveal the affair if Gates did not maintain a relationship with him. Gates’ spokesperson denied any payment to Epstein, reiterating that Gates believed it was a mistake to have ever associated with Epstein.
Gates’ interactions with Epstein began in 2011 when they met multiple times to discuss philanthropic endeavors. These meetings occurred years after Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting a minor for prostitution. Gates and his ex-wife, Melinda French Gates, have both expressed regret over their connections with Epstein. Gates has stated that he sought financial support from Epstein for global health initiatives but later admitted that the association was a “huge mistake.”
Epstein’s association with prominent figures doesn’t end with Gates. Recent news reports have also linked Epstein to other billionaires. Billionaire PayPal and Palantir co-founder Peter Thiel has been reported to have had multiple meetings with Epstein, although the purpose of their interactions remains unclear. Epstein’s financial dealings have also implicated JPMorgan Chase, with the bank currently facing a civil lawsuit alleging that it benefited from Epstein’s sex trafficking activities.
