Allegations against ex-husband Bill
Epstein revelations – Now Melinda Gates speaks out
Updated February 4, 2026 – 3:54 amReading time: 3 minutes
After the publication of new Epstein documents, Melinda French Gates spoke out for the first time. She speaks of stressful memories – and appeals to her ex-husband.
Numerous prominent personalities appear in the images and chat histories from the estate of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, which were published by the US Department of Justice in recent weeks. The material about Microsoft founder Bill Gates is particularly explosive.
In the most recent files, the now 70-year-old appears in two emails that Epstein is said to have sent in 2013. In it, Epstein claims to have gotten Gates medication “to deal with the consequences of sex with Russian girls.” In addition, according to Epstein’s account, Gates tried to secretly pass these drugs on to his then-wife Melinda French Gates.
Now Melinda French Gates has spoken out publicly about this for the first time. On Tuesday, the 60-year-old said in a podcast on the US radio station NPR that her ex-husband had to comment on the allegations arising from the newly published documents.
The headlines about Epstein’s emails filled her with “incredible sadness.” It would be difficult for her personally if these details became public again. This brings back memories of “very, very painful times in my marriage,” said French Gates. But she consciously ended it.
At the same time, the entrepreneur made it clear that open questions were not addressed to her. “Whatever questions are still open there – what exactly, I can’t even begin to know everything – these questions are for these people (Editor’s note: People who appear in the files) and even to my ex-husband,” French Gates said. “You have to answer these questions, not me,” said Gates. “I’m so happy to be away from all the dirt that was there.”
Bill and Melinda Gates were married for 27 years. They were long considered a philanthropic power couple with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, one of the world’s largest private charities, which they co-founded in 2000. They finally announced their divorce in May 2021. Although French Gates kept the details of the marriage’s end largely private, she later wrote in her memoirs that “Bill publicly admitted that he had not always been faithful to me.” Gates’ contact with Epstein was also a factor in the separation.
