Bill Gates and Epstein: Meetings, Donations & What Records Show

The Documented Relationship

Bill Gates's meetings with Jeffrey Epstein represent one of the most extensively documented relationships between a prominent public figure and the convicted sex offender. According to the New York Times, Gates met with Epstein on multiple occasions beginning in 2011 — three years after Epstein's 2008 conviction on state sex offenses in Florida.

The relationship has been the subject of reporting by the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, BBC, and other outlets since 2019, and additional materials released through the DOJ Epstein Library in January 2026 have provided further documentation of the contacts between the two men.

Important context: Bill Gates has not been accused of criminal wrongdoing in connection with the Epstein case. He has acknowledged the meetings were a mistake and stated they focused on philanthropy.

Timeline of Known Meetings

Based on reporting by the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and other verified sources:

2011: First Documented Meetings

According to the New York Times, Gates first met Epstein in 2011 at Epstein's Manhattan townhouse. The meeting was reportedly arranged to discuss philanthropic opportunities, a subject of mutual interest. Multiple subsequent meetings followed at the same location over the following years.

The New York Times reported that Gates visited Epstein's New York residence at least three times, and the two exchanged numerous emails. According to the reporting, Gates described Epstein as "intriguing" but ultimately found his ideas about philanthropy unconvincing.

2013: Flights and Additional Meetings

According to the Wall Street Journal and flight records reviewed by journalists, Gates flew on one of Epstein's aircraft in 2013 — a flight from Teterboro, New Jersey, to Palm Beach, Florida. A spokesperson for Gates has acknowledged the flight, stating it was the only time Gates traveled on Epstein's plane and that it was not to Epstein's island.

2014: Continued Contact

Reporting by the New York Times indicated that meetings and email exchanges continued into at least 2014. The communications reportedly discussed potential philanthropic initiatives, including global health projects.

Post-2014: Relationship Reportedly Ends

According to Gates and his representatives, the relationship with Epstein ended before 2015. Gates has stated that the meetings were a mistake and that he regrets the association.

What the DOJ Epstein Library Reveals

The January 2026 release of 3.5 million pages through the DOJ Epstein Library has added new documentary evidence to the already extensive reporting on the Gates-Epstein relationship. According to media analysis of the released files:

Additional communications between Gates and Epstein or their representatives have been identified in the released materials
The documents appear consistent with previous reporting about the nature and timeline of their meetings
Some records provide new details about the topics discussed and the intermediaries involved in arranging meetings

Reuters has noted that the newly released materials do not appear to show evidence of criminal wrongdoing by Gates, consistent with the conclusions of prior reporting.

The Philanthropic Context

A central question in the Gates-Epstein relationship concerns why one of the world's most prominent philanthropists chose to meet repeatedly with a convicted sex offender. According to the New York Times and Wall Street Journal reporting:

What Gates Has Said

Gates has provided several explanations for the meetings:

He stated that the meetings were about philanthropic fundraising and that Epstein claimed he could help connect Gates with potential donors
He described the meetings as a mistake in judgment and stated he regretted them
He has said he was not aware of the full extent of Epstein's criminal conduct
In a 2021 interview with the BBC, Gates called the meetings "a huge mistake" and said "I certainly made a mistake in judgment"

What Records Indicate

According to verified reporting, the meetings involved discussions about:

Global health philanthropy and potential donors
Scientific research funding
Charitable giving strategies among ultra-high-net-worth individuals
Potential connections to other wealthy individuals who might support Gates Foundation initiatives

The New York Times reported that despite the multiple meetings, no donations from Epstein to the Gates Foundation materialized, and the philanthropic collaborations discussed apparently did not come to fruition.

The Divorce Connection

The Gates-Epstein relationship received renewed public attention in 2021 when Bill and Melinda French Gates announced their divorce. According to the Wall Street Journal, Melinda Gates had expressed discomfort with her husband's meetings with Epstein as early as 2013, and the relationship with Epstein was reportedly one factor in the dissolution of their marriage.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Melinda Gates was disturbed after meeting Epstein during a dinner in 2013 and told friends she was uncomfortable with the association.

Charitable Donations

Questions have also been raised about financial connections between Epstein and entities associated with Gates. According to reporting:

JPMorgan Chase, which later settled claims related to its banking relationship with Epstein, donated $2 million to the MIT Media Lab at Epstein's direction, according to the New York Times. Gates also had connections to the MIT Media Lab through his philanthropic work.
No direct charitable donations from Epstein to the Gates Foundation have been publicly documented.
The financial relationship between Epstein and Gates appears to have been limited to the planned (but apparently unrealized) introductions to potential donors.

What We Know and What We Don't

Based on verified reporting and released documents:

Gates met with Epstein multiple times between 2011 and approximately 2014, after Epstein's 2008 conviction
Gates flew on one of Epstein's aircraft at least once in 2013
Gates has acknowledged the meetings were a mistake
The DOJ Epstein Library release has provided additional documentation of the contacts
No evidence of criminal wrongdoing by Gates has emerged from the documents

What remains unknown:

The complete scope of communications between Gates and Epstein
Whether the newly released DOJ files contain additional significant revelations
The full details of what was discussed in the meetings beyond what has been reported
Whether any financial transactions between the two men remain undisclosed

Primary Sources

New York Times, Gates-Epstein meetings reporting, October 2019 — nytimes.com
Wall Street Journal, Gates-Epstein relationship — wsj.com
BBC News, Gates interview on Epstein — bbc.com
DOJ Epstein Library, released records — justice.gov
Associated Press, Gates Foundation coverage — apnews.com
Reuters, Epstein files analysis — reuters.com

For more on technology industry figures in the Epstein documents, see Tech Billionaires & Epstein. Read about other individuals named in the files on our Epstein List page, or browse the full document library.