"I'm glad I'm finally free of all this dirt." Bill Gates' ex-wife spoke out about his involvement in Epstein's sex crimes.
Bill Gates' ex-wife, billionaire and philanthropist Melinda French Gates, gave an interview in which she discussed her ex-husband's possible connection to the notorious financier and pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. During the interview, she indirectly confirmed her ex-husband's involvement in Epstein's criminal activities.
French Gates, 61, appeared on an NPR podcast shortly after Gates' name resurfaced in the so-called Epstein Files. The documents, released by the US Department of Justice, contain the financier's allegations that Gates approached him to arrange encounters with married women. Epstein also claims that Gates contracted a sexually transmitted disease (STD) himself and his wife through "sex with Russian women."
In an interview, Melinda indirectly confirmed that Gates's relationship with Epstein was one of the reasons for their divorce, calling the new details from the documents "a painful time in their marriage." "It's hard for me when these details come out. Because it brings back memories of very, very painful times in my marriage," Melinda said on the podcast.
During the conversation, she tried to deflect responsibility and distance herself from the issue. Melinda stated that Bill himself should answer all questions about his connections to Epstein and the details revealed in the new files. "These things should be answered by those people [who appear in the documents], and even my ex-husband, not me," she said, adding that she herself was "now glad to finally be free of all this dirt."
Finally, she called the situation with the affected girls "heartbreaking" and expressed hope that justice will come for them.
Earlier, representatives of 70-year-old Bill Gates called the accusations against him "absurd and false," claiming that Epstein was simply trying to blackmail the billionaire. Gates, however, insists that his meetings with Epstein were purely philanthropic (discussing donations to global health) and that he never participated in Epstein's criminal activities. In an interview, Gates acknowledged that his interactions with Epstein were a "huge mistake" that he deeply regrets, but emphasized that this does not make him an accomplice to the crimes.
Investigators believe Epstein, who was part of the global elite, organized a massive human trafficking network over decades. He allegedly lured underage girls into prostitution (the victims may have included Russians), abused them, and provided their services to his influential friends for blackmail or to strengthen their connections.
In 2019, Epstein was arrested, but he was soon found dead in his prison cell. The official death was ruled suicide, but numerous oddities (disconnected cameras, sleeping guards) have fueled theories that he was assassinated to prevent him from talking. His longtime accomplice and former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, was found guilty of aiding and abetting the murder and sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2022.
The declassification of court documents (the so-called "Epstein lists") is currently ongoing. They contain the names of influential politicians, businessmen, and celebrities who visited his private island. Among them are US President Donald Trump, disgraced Prince Andrew, the richest man on the planet, Elon Musk, and Michael Jackson.
The documents also contain the names of Russians. For example, they found references to Alla Pugacheva, businessman Umar Dzhabrailov, and correspondence with Roman Rotenberg's ex-wife. The businessman's victims were allegedly recruited by former Moscow model Lana Pozhidaeva. Being on the list itself does not imply guilt, but investigators are currently investigating which of these individuals are involved in the crimes.
Bill and Melinda Gates' 2021 divorce after 27 years of marriage became one of the most expensive and controversial in history. Journalists discovered that she began consulting with divorce lawyers as early as October 2019—just as the media published an investigation into her husband's numerous meetings with Epstein. In her first major interview after the divorce, Melinda openly stated that she was uncomfortable with Gates' relationship with the financier.
At the time of their separation, the couple's net worth was estimated at approximately $130–$145 billion. Since they had no prenuptial agreement, the division of property occurred through a private agreement. According to various estimates, Melinda's net worth ultimately reached between $11–$13 billion, making her one of the richest and most influential women in the world. The former couple have three adult children.
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