Bill Gates Admits To Affairs with Two Russian Women While Married To Melinda Gates: Who Are They?

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has publicly admitted to having affairs with two Russian women, pulling back the curtain on a private life he has long kept tightly controlled. The 70-year-old billionaire made the remarks during a Gates Foundation gathering on 24 February, directly addressing persistent rumours about his personal conduct while also confronting questions over his controversial ties to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.

It is a striking disclosure from someone who rarely lets his personal life collide with his public persona. Gates and his former wife, Melinda French Gates, officially divorced in 2021. The former couple share three children and are still working out what life looks like after their marriage and high-profile separation.

Unveiling The Russian Affairs Behind The Rumours

During the event, Gates detailed his indiscretions to the assembled staff. The businessman confessed to a relationship with a 'Russian bridge player', whom he initially met while attending competitive 'bridge events'. He also disclosed a separate affair with a 'Russian nuclear physicist', stating they 'met through business activities'.

The Wall Street Journal subsequently identified the bridge player as Mila Antonova. The publication noted that the young woman originally crossed paths with the tech magnate around 2010. These specific details have sparked renewed interest in the timeline of Gates's marriage.

Gates's personal decisions are often viewed alongside his immense wealth. To put it in perspective, his philanthropic organisation has an endowment of over $77.2 billion. This level of financial influence means that any personal scandal naturally attracts major public attention.

How Jeffrey Epstein Weaponised What He Knew

The situation becomes more troubling when looking at Jeffrey Epstein's involvement. Epstein, who died by suicide in his jail cell in August 2019, reportedly knew about Gates's affairs. This knowledge seemingly created a complicated dynamic.

Gates attempted to distance himself from the more severe allegations. The philanthropist explicitly stated that 'he never spent any time,' with Epstein's victims. He firmly denied ever staying at the financier's notorious island estates.

However, Gates did acknowledge the severe misjudgement involved in their association, calling it a 'huge mistake to spend time with Epstein', whom he met in 2011. He admitted failing to properly investigate Epstein's background. The controversial figure had already pleaded guilty to soliciting a minor for prostitution in 2008.

Reflecting on his past decisions, Gates expressed profound regret regarding his continued interactions with the disgraced financier. 'Knowing what I know now makes it, you know, a hundred times worse in terms of not only his crimes in the past, but now it's clear there was ongoing bad behavior,' he stated.

Melinda French Gates On Living With The Fallout

Gates credited his 61-year-old ex-wife for providing the push to finally speak openly about his connection to Epstein. Her recent media appearances have shed light on the emotional toll these buried secrets exacted on their family.

Melinda recently shared her perspective during an interview on the NPR programme Wild Card. 'For me, it's personally hard whenever those details come up, right? Because it brings back memories of some very, very painful times in my marriage,' she explained regarding the unearthed communications.

She firmly placed the burden of explaining these past actions squarely on her former husband. 'Whatever questions remain there of what—I can't even begin to know all of it—those questions are for those people and for even my ex-husband,' she continued. Addressing the recent reports, she added, 'They need to answer to those things, not me.'