In a deeply personal revelation, billionaire philanthropist Melinda French Gates has characterized the recent inclusion of her former spouse, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, in newly unsealed Jeffrey Epstein court documents as a source of significant emotional distress, resurrecting memories of “painful times” during their marriage. Her comments, initially made during a podcast interview with NPR and subsequently reported by the BBC, convey an overwhelming sense of “unbelievable sadness” surrounding the matter.
The extensive document release by the U.S. Department of Justice features a roster of prominent international figures, including former U.S. Presidents Donald Trump and Bill Clinton, as well as the disgraced former Prince Andrew. It is crucial to note that an individual’s appearance in these legal files does not inherently signify awareness of or complicity in Epstein’s extensive criminal activities, a distinction often emphasized by legal experts.
Amidst the renewed public scrutiny, Melinda French Gates articulated a sense of relief at her distance from the controversy, stating she was “so happy to be away from all the muck.” The couple, once globally recognized for their joint philanthropic leadership through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, finalized their divorce in 2021. This separation was institutionally cemented in 2025 when the foundation was rebranded as the Gates Foundation following her formal resignation.
The unsealed records contain a specific, unverified allegation from Epstein himself, claiming Bill Gates had contracted a sexually transmitted disease. This claim was swiftly and vehemently denied by a spokesperson for Gates, who labeled it “absolutely absurd.” In a separate interview with Australia’s 9News, Bill Gates addressed his acknowledged, albeit limited, association with the convicted sex offender, confirming their interactions were confined to several dinners. He explicitly denied ever visiting Epstein’s private island, expressing profound regret for any association: “Every minute I spent with him I regret, and I apologize that I did that.”
Melinda French Gates concluded her reflections with a call for transparency, suggesting that lingering questions stemming from the documents should be addressed directly by those named within them.