Bill Gates shares names of two women he had affairs with in Jeffrey Epstein hearing
Topics: US News, Celebrity, Jeffrey Epstein, Politics
Rhiannon Ingle
Featured Image Credit: Tom Brenner/Getty Images
Topics: US News, Celebrity, Jeffrey Epstein, Politics
Bill Gates has revealed further details about his extramarital affairs that became a focus of a recent congressional hearing examining his past relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The Microsoft co-founder appeared before the House Oversight Committee earlier this month (10 June), where lawmakers questioned him about allegations linked to documents released as part of the ongoing scrutiny surrounding Epstein's associates.
Gates has not been accused of any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein and has denied having any knowledge of his crimes.
During the hearing, Gates acknowledged that some claims regarding affairs during his marriage to Melinda French Gates, who announced their divorce in May 2021 after 27 years of marriage, were accurate.
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According to transcripts released this week, he confirmed relationships with Russian nuclear scientist Karima Nigmatulina and bridge player Mila Antonova.
He also admitted to a past affair with medical entrepreneur Dr Alice Jacobs Nesselrodt.
The billionaire said he had informed Melinda about the relationships before their 2021 divorce and described those conversations as difficult for his family.
Earlier this month, Gates told lawmakers that Epstein had become aware of personal information about his private life and allegedly attempted to use it to re-establish contact.
He said: "These affairs had nothing to do with my interactions with Epstein, but they were painful for my family.
"As the public can now see, based on what has been released in the files, Epstein was working to use information about my infidelities — in addition to many lies that he layered on top — to pressure me to re-engage with him.
"He was unsuccessful in this effort, but it shows some of the ways he tried to leverage his interactions with me to further his agenda.
"I should never have met with Epstein in the first place."
The hearing also examined correspondence linked to Epstein and former Gates Foundation adviser Boris Nikolic. One email draft, reportedly written by Epstein on Nikolic's behalf, included allegations relating to Gates' relationships with Russian women and married women.
While Gates admitted that allegations concerning relationships with Russian women were true, he has continued to reject other claims contained in the Epstein files.
His spokesperson said: "These claims - from a proven, disgruntled liar - are absolutely absurd and completely false.
"The only thing these documents demonstrate is Epstein's frustration that he did not have an ongoing relationship with Gates and the lengths he would go to entrap and defame."
Lawmakers also questioned Gates about suggestions that Epstein may have attempted to gain leverage over him, but Gates denied ever being blackmailed.
"I was not blackmailed," he told the committee.
However, he acknowledged that some of the correspondence appeared to point to that, adding that when reviewing the emails, 'it looks like Mr Epstein's brainstorming was going in that direction'.
The hearing revisited Gates' long-criticised association with Epstein, whom he met several times after the financier's 2008 conviction. Gates has repeatedly described those meetings as a major mistake and reiterated that he was unaware of any criminal activity involving minors.
He said: "I never witnessed nor had any indication that Epstein was engaged in ongoing criminal conduct. I never went to his island, his ranch, or his Florida home.
"I have never victimised anyone. While he may have sought to foster a personal relationship, I was never interested in that and never reciprocated."
Tyla has reached out to the Gates Foundation for comment.