Bill Gates: Jeffrey Epstein used billionaire connections to get to me

June 24, 2026 - 06:03

Bill Gates has told Congress that Jeffrey Epstein exploited his network of wealthy and powerful contacts to gain access to him, ultimately using "veiled threats" to pressure the Microsoft co-founder into continued association. In newly released transcripts from a closed-door congressional interview, Gates described how Epstein leveraged his connections to other billionaires as a way to insert himself into Gates's personal life.

According to Gates, Epstein initially presented himself as a useful intermediary for philanthropic and business dealings. But the relationship turned sour when Epstein learned of Gates's extramarital affairs. Gates stated that Epstein then used that knowledge as leverage, making implied threats to expose the affairs if Gates tried to distance himself. The testimony sheds light on how Epstein, despite being a convicted sex offender, maintained influence over some of the world's most powerful figures by trading on their secrets and his own elite social circle.

Gates acknowledged that his judgment was poor in continuing to meet with Epstein after 2013, calling it a "huge mistake." The interview was part of a broader investigation into Epstein's network and the enablers who helped him operate for years. Gates said he ultimately cut ties with Epstein in 2017, but not before Epstein had successfully used his billionaire connections to create a web of obligation and fear.