Bill Gates

William Henry Gates III is the co-founder of Microsoft and one of the world's most prominent philanthropists through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The Epstein archive documents 709 emails involving Gates between 2010 and 2019, revealing a relationship centered on a proposed donor-advised fund (DAF) partnership and meetings arranged through intermediaries. Gates communicated with Epstein primarily through his science adviser Boris Nikolic and his chief of staff Larry Cohen, who managed Gates' private office bgC3 (now Gates Ventures).

The correspondence shows Gates met with Epstein on multiple occasions between 2010 and 2014 to discuss a philanthropic vehicle that would allow billionaires to partner with the Gates Foundation on large-scale giving. Gates subsequently acknowledged these meetings were "a huge mistake" and expressed regret about the association. The relationship became a factor in Gates' 2021 divorce from Melinda French Gates, who reportedly expressed discomfort with the connection after meeting Epstein in 2013.

Background#

Bill Gates co-founded Microsoft with Paul Allen in 1975 and built it into the world's largest software company, serving as CEO until 2000. He became the world's youngest billionaire in 1987 at age 31 and was ranked as the wealthiest person globally for 18 years. In 2008, Gates transitioned to focus full-time on the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which works on global health, education, and poverty alleviation.

Through his private office Gates Ventures (formerly bgC3), Gates pursues work in climate change, clean energy innovation, Alzheimer's research, and technology. He is also founder of Breakthrough Energy, which invests in clean technology solutions.

Gates' relationship with Epstein has been the subject of extensive public reporting. The New York Times reported in 2019 that Gates met with Epstein on multiple occasions despite Epstein's 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor. Gates told the Wall Street Journal he met with Epstein because "people around him" suggested Epstein "knows a lot of rich people" who could support global health philanthropy. In 2021, Gates called the relationship "a huge mistake" and said he regretted "every minute" spent with Epstein.

Newly released documents from the Justice Department in early 2026 included allegations by Epstein of improper conduct by Gates, which a Gates spokesperson called "absolutely absurd and completely false". The spokesperson stated the documents demonstrate "Epstein's frustration that he did not have an ongoing relationship with Gates and the lengths he would go to entrap and defame."

Correspondence with Epstein#

The archive contains 709 emails involving Gates spanning from 2010 to 2019, with Gates as sender in 113 and recipient in 575. The correspondence was typically intermediated through Boris Nikolic, Gates' chief science and technology adviser from 2009-2014, and Larry Cohen, managing partner of bgC3. Gates' own direct exchanges with Epstein focus primarily on a donor-advised fund proposal, travel updates, and brief comments on shared acquaintances.

Donor-Advised Fund Partnership (2014)

The central theme of the correspondence is Epstein's effort to broker a partnership between Gates and other wealthy individuals through a donor-advised fund structure. In August 2014, Gates sent Epstein slides and a narrative describing "the dilemma I faced in figuring out about giving and how the only path I saw was to create a new institution which is now working very well." Gates wrote that "doing scale philanthropy well requires a lot of personal time" and the proposed partnership would "try to let people not give up all their time but feel good about their giving impact."

Epstein wrote to Gates that he was "confident, that with the right approach you will be able to raise at least 100 billion" and offered to help connect Gates with "a new group of people that would like to do good but are short on know how." Gates responded agreeing "I should not use slides or even do a presentation" but suggested discussing "how surprised I am at how tough doing good philanthropy is and what has really worked."

In September 2014, Gates informed Epstein he would be in New York for a Robin Hood session on measurement in philanthropy and "a dinner with a bunch of people. I can easily talk about the DAF approach at the dinner. Ray Dalio and Paul Tudor Jones and others will be at both events."

Following a December 2014 breakfast Epstein organized with potential partners, Gates wrote that he "enjoyed the breakfast a lot" and "all of the attendees were interesting people," but concluded "I don't think we have any people at this point who will move to do something soon. It is a good idea but it won't come together with 4-6 partners anytime soon."

Meetings and Social Contacts (2010-2017)

Email scheduling shows Gates met with Epstein and Nikolic for dinner in December 2010, though Gates cancelled at the last minute after speaking with Melinda, writing "I was looking forward to the dinner. Nathan had agreed with you that I would enjoy meeting with him and that it is a fine thing to do so on another trip I will try and do it." A document from Epstein's assistant shows Gates was scheduled for "dinner Sunday Dec. 5th" or possibly December 6th. Epstein then instructed his assistant that "girls should be form 5-7 gates from 7-" for December 6th.

In March 2013, Epstein wrote to an acquaintance: "Im in palm beach, with bill gates at the house". Later correspondence mentions Gates would be "with me monday 8th in ny ( us open" in September 2014.

In March 2014, Epstein's assistant arranged for Gates to meet with Epstein in Seattle, followed by a visit to see Paul Allen's "Mouse/Brain" project at the Allen Institute. Gates was scheduled for dinner with Epstein on March 14, 2014.

In September 2013, Epstein hosted a dinner where "Bill is coming with Melinda now", with guests including Thorbjørn Jagland, the chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee.

In 2017, Epstein sent Gates invitations to visit his New Mexico ranch ("come visit. . time to have fun !! you look miserable") and to attend "ONE SCIENCE with media lab" events. Epstein also forwarded Gates a trip report he co-authored about Paul Allen's Bioscience & Philanthropy Summit, prompting Gates to critique the conference's unclear goals.

Later Correspondence and Tensions (2018-2019)

By 2018-2019, the tone shifts. In January 2019, Epstein wrote Gates and Cohen: "hi, hope you guys had a nice holiday, I think at some point you want to reimburse me . . I feel awkward asking , but makes little sense". Days later, Epstein wrote: "i think best that when bill is on the east coast , we set aside an hour to meet".

In a January 13, 2019 message, Epstein referenced a December 3, 2013 meeting in Washington, DC and wrote: "larry said you have no recollection?? or at least he was not aware of your request and our conversations . odd". On January 20, 2019, Epstein wrote: "I hope you follow bezo s lead", an apparent reference to Jeff Bezos' public response to blackmail attempts.

In March 2019, Epstein sent Gates a link to a New York Times opinion letter about Epstein without additional comment.

International Diplomacy and Shared Contacts

Gates periodically updated Epstein on his international travel. In June 2014, Gates wrote from Hawaii en route to the Middle East, where he would see "the top Saudi leadership — maybe the King and Crown Prince and definitely the Deputy Crown Prince." In February 2018, Epstein forwarded Gates a New York Times article noting "MBS is open to new tech," referencing Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Gates and Epstein discussed shared acquaintances including Ray Dalio, about whom Gates wrote in May 2014: "I still like Dalio but he has had a tough year" following a currency bet. Gates also mentioned Thorbjørn Jagland's re-election to the Council of Europe and his "peace prize committee job."

Connections#

Gates' correspondence places him in contact with numerous figures in Epstein's network:

Boris Nikolic served as Gates' chief science and technology adviser and was the primary intermediary with Epstein. Nikolic introduced Epstein to Gates Foundation personnel in 2011, describing Epstein as "a friend and a financial guru" with the caveat "he is notorious for some bad press ;)". Nikolic was involved in mediating a 2013 dispute between Gates and Epstein.

Larry Cohen, managing partner of bgC3 (now Gates Ventures), was copied on most Gates-Epstein correspondence and coordinated scheduling. The archive contains 301 emails shared among Gates, Cohen, and Epstein.

Jeffrey Epstein himself accounts for 606 shared emails with Gates. Epstein positioned himself as a connector to wealthy philanthropists and attempted to facilitate Gates' donor-advised fund initiative.

Steven Sinofsky, a former Microsoft executive, co-authored a trip report with Epstein about the Allen Institute summit that was forwarded to Gates.

Gates' correspondence also shows connections to tech industry figures including Larry Page (23 shared emails), Sergey Brin (22), Jeff Bezos (22), Elon Musk (19), and others who appear in Epstein's network, though these individuals are referenced in emails rather than being direct correspondents with Gates in the archive.

Document References#

Gates appears prominently in litigation arising from JPMorgan Chase's relationship with Epstein. A June 2023 stockholder derivative complaint alleges that JPMorgan executives, including then-CEO of the private bank James Staley, maintained Epstein as a client despite internal compliance warnings. The complaint states that "Epstein's reach also extended to the events and people who made JPM the institution it is today" through connections to the Columbus, Ohio business community. The complaint does not directly implicate Gates but describes how Epstein cultivated relationships with prominent business figures.

The complaint notes that in April 2010, Epstein emailed Gates Foundation personnel suggesting Gates might want to join a meeting, and that Boris Nikolic introduced Epstein to Dubai officials as "my great friend, boris; right hand to bill gates and someone i think you might enjoy."

A November 2010 email from Epstein to his assistant about a Gates dinner contains the instruction "girls should be form 5-7 gates from 7-", raising questions about the nature of the planned gathering. The context of this instruction remains unclear from the record.

A plaintiffs' memorandum in the JPMorgan litigation references the bank's relationship with Epstein and his connections to wealthy clients, though Gates is not directly named in the excerpts available.

Visits to Epstein Properties#

The archive documents the following visits or planned visits to Epstein properties:

Palm Beach Residence

1. March 1-2, 2013 — Epstein wrote "Im in palm beach, with bill gates at the house"

Manhattan Townhouse

1. December 2010 (planned) — Dinner with Gates and Boris Nikolic scheduled then cancelled
2. September 2014 (planned) — Gates planned to be "with me monday 8th in ny (us open"

Seattle Meeting

1. March 20, 2014 — Meeting at Gates' office in Seattle, followed by visit to Paul Allen's Allen Institute

New Mexico Ranch

No documented visits, though Epstein invited Gates to visit in August 2017 ("Im at my ranch in santa fe, come visit. . time to have fun !!")

Little St. James Island

No documented visits in the correspondence

The March 2013 Palm Beach reference and the December 2010 planned dinner represent the clearest evidence of in-person meetings at Epstein properties. The 2014 Seattle meeting was at Gates' own office. Gates has publicly stated "I didn't go to New Mexico or Florida or Palm Beach," though the March 2013 message from Epstein suggests otherwise.