Bill Gates calls ties to Jeffrey Epstein a foolish mistake affecting his divorce

Bill Gates has acknowledged that his association with Jeffrey Epstein was a significant mistake. He described the relationship as "foolish" and said it negatively impacted his personal life, including his divorce from Melinda Gates in 2021. Gates revealed that Epstein attempted to blackmail him in 2017, using knowledge of an alleged affair to pressure him into investments. Melinda Gates has stated that her husband's ties to Epstein were a factor in their divorce. Gates now regrets his connections to Epstein and has learned to be more cautious in his relationships. He admitted that he hoped the association would benefit global health philanthropy, but it ultimately did not.