Was Jeffrey Epstein the reason behind Melinda French Gates' divorce from Bill Gates?

Time of India

05-06-2025

Did Jeffrey Epstein kill himself, or was it a cold-blooded murder?
Finally, there's an answer to that long-looming question.
After years of conspiracy theories and speculations over Epstein's death, the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) Deputy Director Dan Bongino revealed on Wednesday that there is nothing in the infamous American financier's file that might indicate that he died by any other way than suicide.
While alive, Epstein ruined countless lives with his sexual abuse and sex-trafficking activities. The exact number of Epstein's victims remains uncertain, but estimates suggest that over 250 individuals were subjected to his abuse.
However, those were not the only ones impacted by Epstein.
Turns out, he had a massive contribution to the divorce of Melinda French Gates, who called it quits with Microsoft founder Bill Gates after 27 years of marriage.
What happened?
In May 2021, Melinda French Gates and Bill Gates announced their divorce after 27 years of marriage, sending shockwaves through the philanthropic and tech worlds. While the couple cited irreconcilable differences, Melinda has since revealed that Bill's association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein played a significant role in the dissolution of their marriage.
A deepening rift
The relationship between the Gates and Epstein began in 2011, after Epstein had served a 13-month sentence for soliciting prostitution from a minor.
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Undo
Bill Gates met Epstein to discuss philanthropy, but Melinda was uncomfortable with the association. In 2013, she reportedly warned Bill about his meetings with Epstein, describing them as a "turning point" in their relationship.
In a 2022 interview with CBS Mornings, Melinda stated, 'I did not like that he'd had meetings with Jeffrey Epstein. I made that clear to him.' She also recounted meeting Epstein once and finding him 'abhorrent' and 'evil personified,' an encounter that left her with nightmares.
The final straw
Reports suggest that Melinda began consulting divorce lawyers in October 2019, around the same time the New York Times reported on Bill's meetings with Epstein, including an overnight stay at Epstein's New York mansion. These revelations were reportedly a catalyst for Melinda's decision to end the marriage.
The aftermath:
While Epstein's role in the Gates divorce is a significant factor, it was not the sole reason. Melinda has indicated that there were multiple issues that contributed to the end of their marriage.
However, Epstein's involvement undeniably played a pivotal role in their decision to part ways.
The retrospection:
After the divorce, Bill Gates has expressed regret time and again over his association with Epstein, acknowledging it as a 'substantial error in judgment.'
In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, the Microsoft co-founder admitted that his decision to meet with the late convicted sex offender was 'foolish'. Gates explained that his initial interactions with Epstein were motivated by the hope of leveraging the financier's connections to support global health initiatives.
However, he acknowledged the meetings were unwise and ineffective.
"In retrospect,' Gates told WSJ, 'I was foolish to spend any time with him. And he, sort of, got time with various people by spending time with other people.'
He added, "So yes, I think I was quite stupid. I thought it would help me with global health philanthropy. In fact, it failed to do that it was just a huge mistake."
On the other hand, Melinda claimed the relationship had 'reached fever pitch' after the New York Times released a damning report on his connections to Epstein.
She shared that the article about Epstein, whom she referred to as 'evil personified' in the interview, 'raised serious questions about Bill's conduct—questions that suggested he had betrayed not only our marriage but also our values."
Following the divorce, Melinda has focused on her philanthropic efforts through Pivotal Ventures, an investment and charitable firm she founded. She has committed to advancing women's rights and participation in various sectors, including politics and business.
Bongino updated Fox News on the investigation into the Epstein file, as conspiracies continue to float that he was murdered in prison, and said, "The evidence we have in our files clearly indicates that it was, in fact, a suicide. We do have video. It's not the greatest video in the world. I don't want to set expectations on fire." Bongino added, "However, the video does show in that specific block, that he goes in, made a phone call; you'll see 12 hours of guards going in basically check on him, come back.
You'll see nobody really comes out of that bay in that area than him. There's no one in there. There's nothing there in the file at all that indicates anything other than in fact a suicide."
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