The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has initiated an external review into its past interactions with Jeffrey Epstein, a development confirmed by CEO Mark Suzman in a recent memo to staff. This internal investigation surfaces as Bill Gates himself is slated to appear before Congress next month, where his ties to the late convicted sex offender are expected to be a central topic. The foundation’s independent board members, along with Gates, reportedly commenced this review in March, with an update anticipated later this summer. Beyond the direct examination of past engagements, the probe also aims to scrutinize the foundation’s existing policies for vetting potential philanthropic partners.
Concerns surrounding the foundation’s connections to Epstein have been mounting, particularly in the wake of extensive Justice Department files detailing Epstein’s efforts to cultivate a relationship with Gates. Suzman’s memo indicated that a recent board meeting in London included discussions specifically addressing the impact of these DOJ files on the foundation’s reputation and ongoing work. This internal reckoning follows a prior investigation by *Fortune* in March, which outlined how Epstein spent nearly a decade attempting to embed himself within Gates’ inner circle. A spokesman for Gates acknowledged to *Fortune* that Gates “regrets meeting with Epstein” and maintained that he “never witnessed or engaged in any illicit or illegal behavior.”
Documents from the Justice Department, totaling over three million pages, paint a picture of Epstein’s persistent strategy to gain proximity to Gates. This included leveraging individuals close to Gates, such as Boris Nikolic, Gates’ former chief science advisor, and Melanie Walker, a former senior advisor at the Gates Foundation. Another figure implicated was Mila Antonova, reportedly a former acquaintance of Gates. Epstein reportedly facilitated Antonova’s visa, provided her with accommodation in his New York apartments, funded her coding education, and sent her wire transfers. These favors, according to *Fortune*’s reporting, were subsequently used by Epstein in an apparent attempt to pressure Gates. An April 2018 communication from Epstein to Gates’ deputy, Larry Cohen, reportedly stated that Epstein had housed Antonova and warned that Gates was “playing with fire.” Antonova’s attorney has stated she was unaware of Epstein’s manipulative intentions, believing his assistance was genuine.
Boris Nikolic has since stated that Epstein “inserted himself as a mediator” during Nikolic’s separation from Gates’ venture fund, subsequently employing “lies to pursue his own agenda.” Nikolic clarified he only recognized this manipulation retrospectively. Despite this, DOJ documents show communications between Nikolic and Epstein continued as late as 2019. Melanie Walker, who, like Nikolic, has not faced any charges, chose not to comment on the *Fortune* story through her legal representatives.
Epstein’s ultimate objective, as suggested by the DOJ documents, was to entice Gates into participating in a donor-advised fund that Epstein had reportedly been pitching since at least 2011. This fund was purportedly designed for managing the wealth of newly established billionaires. When this project stalled around 2014, Epstein reportedly intensified his communication with Gates and his associates, seemingly to compel the billionaire into supporting the fund and to seek reimbursement for his financial support of Antonova’s education and housing.
Bill Gates has consistently characterized his interactions with Epstein as a “mistake,” framing them within the context of philanthropic discussions. He has not been charged with any wrongdoing. During a foundation town hall earlier this year, Gates reportedly offered an apology for past affairs with two Russian women and expressed regret for the time he spent with Epstein.
This internal investigation and the looming congressional testimony coincide with a broader restructuring within the Gates Foundation. Suzman’s memo also detailed plans to reduce the foundation’s workforce by approximately 500 positions, representing about 20% of its staff, by 2030. The initial phase of these layoffs, affecting 200 roles, is slated for completion by the end of 2027. Suzman acknowledged the challenging period for the organization, emphasizing the importance of taking decisive actions.
The revelations surrounding Gates’s association with Epstein have already had significant repercussions for the foundation’s key relationships. Melinda French Gates departed the board following her 2021 divorce from Bill Gates, citing his continued contact with Epstein as a contributing factor to their separation. Furthermore, Warren Buffett, a long-standing and substantial donor who has contributed approximately $43 billion to the foundation between 2006 and 2024, recently indicated to CNBC that he has not communicated with Gates since the Epstein disclosures emerged. Buffett suggested that future donations might be reconsidered. His annual gifts are typically announced in June, the same month Bill Gates is scheduled to appear before Congress. Buffett told CNBC in March, “I don’t want to be in a position where I know things … to be called as a witness.”
