Bill Gates reveals 3 affairs, blackmail fears in bombshell Epstein testimony

US lawmakers sought Bill Gates' testimony after the release of additional documents by the Justice Department renewed scrutiny over his past interactions with the disgraced financier, who died in a jail cell in 2019.

In Short

• Bill Gates admitted to affairs with 3 women during US committee testimony
• Gates accused Jeffrey Epstein of trying to blackmail him over these affairs
• He denied having any STD or covertly giving medicines

During a closed-door testimony before a US congressional panel, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates revealed that he had affairs with three women and accused late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein of blackmailing him over the alleged relationships.

The revelations emerged during the US House Oversight Committee’s investigation into Epstein’s network and associations. Lawmakers sought Gates’ testimony after the release of additional documents by the Justice Department renewed scrutiny over his past interactions with the disgraced financier, who died in a jail cell in 2019.

Gates, who appeared voluntarily before the committee on June 10, told lawmakers that Epstein knew about two affairs involving Russian women — bridge player Mila Antonova and nuclear physicist Karima Nigmatulina — and later acknowledged a third affair involving medical entrepreneur Alice Jacobs Nesselrodt.

"These affairs had nothing to do with my interactions with Epstein, but they were painful for my family," Gates said, according to the testimony transcript, released on Tuesday. "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."

Gates has denied any involvement in Epstein’s crimes and said his decision to "maintain contact with him was a mistake."

“I know he was convicted. I knew about that. I was willing to take a chance on meeting with him in a limited role,” Gates said, explaining that his meetings with Epstein were primarily linked to discussions about philanthropy.

EPSTEIN TRIED TO BLACKMAIL GATES?

During questioning, Gates suggested Epstein may have been looking for ways to exploit knowledge of his personal life.

Gates told lawmakers that Epstein “contemplated blackmailing me” after learning about his affairs, though he said the alleged attempt never materialised.

“He never blackmailed me, but looking at these emails, it raises a serious probability that he contemplated blackmailing me,” Gates said.

The comments were linked to a 2013 email draft written by Epstein that referenced allegations involving Gates’ personal life and his former employee Boris Nikolic, who had been a mutual connection between the two men.

Gates described the communication as an apparent attempt by Epstein to gain leverage.

“Who knows if he ever sent it to Dr. Nikolic, but it looks like he’s musing on using a mixture of facts and falsities as an effort, almost like a blackmail, to advance some goal,” Gates told the committee.

STD CONCERNS CLAIM DISMISSED

During the testimony, lawmakers also questioned Gates about claims contained in Epstein-related documents that alleged the Microsoft founder had concerns about a sexually transmitted infection after an affair.

Gates denied ever having an STD and rejected claims that he secretly provided medication to anyone.

“I never had an STD... I may have indicated some concern about whether I had an STD; I don’t recall that. But I never had an STD. I never gave medicines to anyone covertly,” Gates said.

He acknowledged that it was possible he had discussed such concerns with Boris Nikolic, a mutual friend of Gates and Epstein.

MEETINGS BETWEEN GATES, EPSTEIN

Gates said he met Epstein around 12 to 14 times, along with two video calls, over a four-year period. According to documents released by the Justice Department, the two continued to meet even after Epstein’s 2008 conviction on sex offence charges.

Gates said Epstein repeatedly claimed he could help connect him with wealthy donors for philanthropic initiatives, but those promises ultimately did not materialise.

The released files also included photographs of Gates with women whose identities were redacted.

A spokesperson for the Gates Foundation said Gates “took responsibility for his actions” during a February town hall meeting with employees.

The scrutiny has also widened to the Gates Foundation, which announced in April that it had launched an external review of its past interactions with Epstein.

Emails released by the Justice Department in January also showed communication between Epstein and members of the foundation’s staff.

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