Melinda Gates ended marriage with Bill Gates over Epstein allegations

Melinda French Gates, former wife of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, confirmed today that she left him over allegations now revealed in the Epstein Files. "I am so happy to be away from all the muck that was there," she told Rachel Martin on NPR's Wild Card.

In an interview with NPR, Melinda French Gates confirmed that she ended her marriage with Bill Gates because of allegations contained in the Epstein files.

— Jerad Walker (@jeradwalker.bsky.social) 2026-02-03T17:38:32.018Z

She didn't specify exactly what he did, but her answer responded to Martin's summary of the allegations: that Bill visited sex-trafficking financier Jeffrey Epstein's private island on several occasions, had affairs, contracted a sexually transmitted infection, and wanted to slip his wife medicine for such infections without her knowledge.

"I had to leave my marriage, I wanted to leave my marriage," she said. "I felt I needed to eventually leave the Foundation. So it's just sad. That's the truth, right? And for me, I've been able to move on in my life, and I hope there's some justice for those women."

In emails, Epstein wrote that Bill Gates had come to him to facilitate trysts with married women and to get medication to treat an STI from "sex with Russian girls."

Epstein also claimed that Bill Gates wanted to try to give that STI medication to Melinda French Gates in secret.

"To add insult to the injury you then implore me to please delete the emails regarding your std, your request that I provide you antibiotics that you can surreptitiously give to Melinda and the description of your penis," outlined one angry email from Epstein.

Epstein died in prison awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. The Epstein Files reveal the extensive communications, partying, schmoozing and supplications of wealthy and powerful people—if not all of them.

Bill Gates, through an anonymous spokesperson, denies everything.

"These claims are absolutely absurd and completely false," a spokesperson for Bill told CBS News in a statement. "The only thing these documents demonstrate is Epstein's frustration that he did not have an ongoing relationship with Gates and the lengths he would go to entrap and defame."

Previously:
• Epstein photo dump shows Trump, Clinton, Gates in sex trafficker's orbit
• WSJ: Jeffrey Epstein threatened Bill Gates over affair with Russian bridge player
• Bill Gates resigned from Microsoft board during investigation into affair with employee