Melinda French Gates: Bill Gates ‘Has to Answer’ Over Epstein Files

Melinda French Gates has spoken publicly for the first time since the release of a new batch of Justice Department files connected to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, which include references to her former husband, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates.

‘They Have to Answer, Not Me’

In an interview aired Tuesday on NPR’s Wild Card podcast, Melinda French Gates said seeing her ex-husband’s name in the Epstein documents filled her with “unbelievable sadness.” She stressed that responsibility for addressing any questions raised by the files lies solely with those mentioned.

“Whatever questions remain there… for those people, and for even my ex-husband, they need to answer to those things, not me,” she said, adding that she was relieved to be “away from all the muck that was there.”

She also underscored the broader human toll of the Epstein case, focusing on the victims. “No girl should ever be put in the situation that they were put in by Epstein and whatever was going on with all of the various people around him,” she said, describing the details as “beyond heartbreaking.”

What the Epstein Files Say

Bill Gates is among several wealthy and high-profile figures named in millions of pages of documents released by the U.S. Justice Department related to Epstein. The files include a series of emails Epstein sent to himself in 2013, in which he appeared to suggest Gates was involved in an extramarital affair and sought illicit drugs.

In one email, Epstein wrote that he had stepped away from a role connected to the Gates Foundation and BG3, a think tank founded by Gates, claiming he became entangled in a “severe marital dispute between Melinda and Bill.” Epstein described himself as having been Gates’s “right hand” and alleged involvement in activities he characterized as morally inappropriate or ethically unsound.

Bill Gates Denies Allegations

A spokesperson for Bill Gates strongly rejected the claims, saying in a statement that the allegations were “absolutely absurd and completely false.” The spokesperson added that the documents reflect Epstein’s frustration over not maintaining a relationship with Gates and an effort “to entrap and defame.”

Bill Gates has previously acknowledged having an affair with a Microsoft employee in 2019, an admission he made publicly in 2021, saying he bore responsibility for causing pain to his family. However, he has denied any criminal wrongdoing related to Epstein.

Marriage, Divorce, and Aftermath

Melinda and Bill Gates were married for 27 years before divorcing in 2021. She later resigned as co-chair of the Gates Foundation in 2024. In the NPR interview, Melinda French Gates said she ultimately felt she had to leave both her marriage and the foundation.

“I purposely pushed it away and I moved on,” she said. “I’m in a really unexpected, beautiful place in my life.”

Wider List of Names

Other prominent figures mentioned in the Epstein files include President Donald Trump, Elon Musk, former President Bill Clinton, and former Prince Andrew. None have been charged with crimes related to Epstein. Prince Andrew, while denying allegations, was stripped of royal titles and removed from his royal residence due to the controversy surrounding his relationship with Epstein.

Epstein’s longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell remains the only person convicted in connection with his crimes. Epstein died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges; his death was ruled a suicide.

Melinda French Gates said she hopes the renewed attention on the case leads to justice for the victims. “For me, I’ve been able to move on in life,” she said. “And I hope there’s some justice for those women now.”