Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has forcefully denied recent allegations suggesting he contracted a sexually transmitted disease from women associated with Jeffrey Epstein, obtained treatment from Epstein, and secretly provided antibiotics to his then-wife, Melinda Gates. The claims emerged in newly released files from the Department of Justice detailing Epstein’s activities and correspondence. Gates’s spokesperson labeled the allegations “absolutely absurd and completely false,” emphasizing that the documents reflect Epstein’s attempts to fabricate wrongdoing and malign Gates rather than any genuine evidence of impropriety.
The controversial claims originated from emails written by Epstein to himself on July 18, 2013, which were included in the DOJ’s latest tranche of materials released to the public. Among hundreds of thousands of documents, the emails allege Gates had a sexually transmitted disease, sought antibiotics from Epstein to address it, and purportedly passed them to Melinda Gates. The spokesperson stated that the emails “demonstrate only Epstein’s frustration that he did not have an ongoing relationship with Gates and the lengths he would go to entrap and defame.”
Epstein’s notes, which appear to have been drafts of letters and memos, make claims in the voice of Gates’s then-advisor, Boris Nikolic. In one message, Epstein describes being “dismayed beyond comprehension” that Gates had ended their interactions after six years of acquaintance. The email referenced Gates’s alleged request that antibiotics be provided for treatment, highlighting Epstein’s sense of grievance. Another email, in a draft purportedly authored by Nikolic, outlined his resignation from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, citing being “caught up in a severe marital dispute” between the Gateses and being asked to assist with ethically questionable activities, including obtaining medication for Gates related to sexual activity.
Gates, who has publicly expressed regret over his interactions with Epstein, has consistently denied any wrongdoing. He has stated that all of his meetings with Epstein were in professional, group settings, and has denied attending Epstein parties or visiting his private residences. Gates and Melinda Gates were married from 1994 until their divorce in 2021. Melinda, now a philanthropist in her own right, cited Gates’s friendship with Epstein and reported extramarital relationships as factors influencing the end of their marriage, though she did not provide specific details publicly.
The DOJ release also included previously unpublished photographs showing Gates with Epstein in social settings, as well as other public figures, including Lawrence Summers and Boris Nikolic. One undated photo shows Gates with a woman whose face has been obscured. These images have reignited media attention and speculation about the nature of Gates’s relationship with Epstein, although no evidence in the files demonstrates illegal or criminal activity on Gates’s part.
The emails were among a larger release of Epstein-related files, which include correspondence, photographs, and other documents dating back more than a decade. Epstein, the financier and convicted sex offender, died by suicide in a New York jail cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. Prior to his New York arrest, Epstein had served jail time in Florida in 2008 and 2009 after pleading guilty to state charges of soliciting prostitution from a minor. Investigators had evidence that Epstein sexually abused underage girls in Palm Beach, Florida, but agreed to a controversial plea deal that allowed him to avoid federal prosecution at the time.
Epstein’s longtime associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, was convicted in 2021 for her role in recruiting and facilitating sexual abuse of minors. She is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence in a federal facility in Texas. Other high-profile figures named in lawsuits by Epstein’s victims have denied allegations of sexual misconduct, including Virginia Roberts Giuffre’s claims regarding former British royal Prince Andrew. Giuffre, who had accused numerous public figures of sexual abuse facilitated by Epstein, died by suicide in 2025. No additional individuals have been criminally charged in connection with Epstein’s crimes beyond Maxwell.
Bill Gates’s spokesperson reiterated that the allegations linking him to sexually transmitted diseases, Epstein-facilitated medications, or improper conduct with his ex-wife are entirely untrue. The spokesperson emphasized that the documents reflect Epstein’s ongoing attempts to portray himself as central to Gates’s personal and professional life, despite Gates’s repeated refusals to engage with him outside professional contexts. “Mr. Gates has long regretted having any interactions with Epstein, but he has never engaged in the activity described in these documents,” the statement said.
Despite Gates’s repeated denials, the new DOJ release has prompted renewed public scrutiny, particularly in the media and online discussions, about his association with Epstein. The release of these documents comes as public interest in Epstein’s network remains high, reflecting ongoing fascination with the financier’s connections to influential figures in business, politics, and academia. Epstein’s strategy of documenting and memorializing his interactions with prominent individuals has contributed to the ongoing intrigue, as many documents remain heavily redacted or in draft form, leaving open questions about intent versus reality.
The Gates-epstein files also provide context to Melinda Gates’s decision to retain legal counsel in 2019, according to reports from The Wall Street Journal. She reportedly became concerned about her husband’s repeated meetings with Epstein and the potential implications for both personal and philanthropic activities. While the couple had already announced plans to divorce, Melinda’s legal consultation focused on securing her position and investigating Gates’s interactions with Epstein, particularly those that allegedly contradicted public statements by Gates at the time.
Gates’s relationship with Epstein, which Gates has described as limited and entirely professional, has consistently drawn scrutiny, largely due to Epstein’s criminal history and high-profile associations. The recent DOJ release, while including inflammatory claims, does not provide independent evidence corroborating Epstein’s assertions regarding Gates’s personal conduct. Experts note that Epstein’s self-authored emails often serve to exaggerate his own influence or portray others as morally compromised, and thus require careful contextual interpretation.
As the public digests the new material, Gates continues his work in technology and philanthropy. Through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, he remains focused on global health, development, and education initiatives. His spokesperson affirmed that Gates will continue his philanthropic efforts, undeterred by the resurfacing of Epstein-related allegations.
In summary, Bill Gates has categorically denied all claims of contracting a sexually transmitted disease, obtaining treatment from Epstein, or secretly providing medication to Melinda Gates. The emails in question, released by the Department of Justice as part of the Epstein files, reflect Epstein’s personal grievances and attempts to create scandal rather than verified misconduct. While the release has reignited discussion of Gates’s past association with Epstein, both Gates and his representatives maintain that the allegations are false, and that his interactions with Epstein were limited to professional, group-based meetings, with no evidence of criminal or improper activity.
James Jenkins is a celebrated Pulitzer Prize-winning author whose work has reshaped the way readers think about social justice and human rights in America. Raised in Atlanta, Georgia, James grew up in a community that instilled in him both resilience and a strong sense of responsibility toward others. After studying political science and creative writing at Howard University, he worked as a journalist covering civil rights issues before dedicating himself fully to fiction. His novels are known for their sharp, empathetic portraits of marginalized communities and for weaving personal stories with broader political realities. Jenkins’s breakout novel, Shadows of Freedom, won national acclaim for its unflinching look at systemic inequality, while his more recent works explore themes of identity, resilience, and the fight for dignity in the face of oppression. Beyond his novels, James is an active public speaker, lecturing at universities and participating in nonprofit initiatives that support literacy and community empowerment. He believes that storytelling is a way to preserve history and inspire change. When not writing, James enjoys jazz music, mentoring young writers, and traveling with his family to explore cultures and stories around the world.
