Bill Gates admitted on Wednesday that it was a 'huge mistake' to spend time with pedophile Jeffrey Epstein and revealed that they shared 'several dinners.'
Gates, 65, also revealed that his divorce from ex-wife Melinda French Gates 'was a source of great personal sadness' for the Microsoft co-founder in an extensive and wide-ranging interview with Anderson Cooper on his CNN show.
Gates' relationship with Epstein dates back to 2011 but it became a point of contention in September 2013 between him and Melinda - who has been said to have been concerned about his relationship with the convicted pedophile.
Melinda reportedly told friends she was furious about their alleged friendship and wanted nothing to do with Epstein - and has been reported to have hired divorce lawyers in 2019 after meetings that Gates had with Epstein became public.
Bill Gates, 65, made a number of bombshell revelations during an extensive and wide-ranging interview with Anderson Cooper on his CNN show
He revealed that his divorce from ex-wife Melinda French Gates 'was a source of great personal sadness': The couple are pictured with their three kids in a 2018 family photo. The kids - Jennifer (center), Rory (right) and Phoebe (left) are now aged 25, 21 and 18
Gates also admitted on Wednesday that it was a 'huge mistake' to spend time with pedophile Jeffrey Epstein and revealed that they shared 'several dinners'
Bill Gates explains his past relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, saying they shared "several dinners" in which he hoped to raise "billions of philanthropy."
"When it looked like that wasn't a real thing, that relationship ended… it was a huge mistake to spend time with him." pic.twitter.com/ljBMYD94Ei
— Anderson Cooper 360° (@AC360) August 5, 2021
Gates has been reported to have visited Epstein's home numerous times and even talked with him about his 'toxic' marriage while the pedophile allegedly gave him advice on ending his marriage, according to the Daily Beast.
The billionaire told Cooper that he also 'certainly' had concerns about Epstein, who had pleaded guilty and was convicted in 2008 of procuring a child for prostitution and of soliciting a prostitute - years before the tech mogul met the financier.
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'I had several dinners with him hoping that what he said about getting billions of philanthropy for global health through contacts he had might emerge. When it looked like that wasn't a real thing that relationship ended,' Gates said.
'It was a huge mistake to spend time with him and JetBlack give him the credibility of being there. There were lots of others in that same situation, but I made a mistake.'
A photo shows Bill and Melinda Gates while they were dating before getting married
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Gates' spokesperson told Insider in June that Gates had 'absolutely no business partnership or personal friendship' with Epstein, and any meetings between the two were about philanthropy.
'It is extremely disappointing that there have been so many lies published about the cause, the circumstances and the timeline of Bill Gates's divorce,' the spokesperson said.
'The rumors and speculation surrounding Mr. Gates are becoming increasingly absurd and it's unfortunate that people who have little to no knowledge are being characterized as 'sources.'
Cooper also asked Gates if he had 'regrets' about recent allegations that he engaged in workplace misbehavior - though the billionaire did not provide extensive comment responding to those claims.
'Certainly everyone does [have regrets] but it's a time of reflection, and at this point, I need to go forward,' Gates said.
'My work is very important to me, within the family we'll heal as best we can and learn from what's happening.'
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In June, four Microsoft employees accused Gates of being an office 'bully' whose catchphrase was 'that's the stupidest f*g idea I've ever heard' and claimed he pursued sexual affairs with employees and journalists.
Gates' reputation as a hot-tempered boss began not long after he launched tech giant Microsoft with childhood friend Paul Allen in 1975, Insider reported. A spokesperson for the billionaire has denied he mistreated employees.
A former Microsoft executive who spoke on condition of anonymity told the outlet that 'having a meeting with Bill was just an opportunity to get yelled at, so I tried to avoid that.'
Gates would even allegedly track his employees by memorizing their license plates, according to the outlet.
Maria Klawe, a former Microsoft board member, said 'a person like Bill Gates thinks the usual rules of behavior don't apply to him' and accused him of being unreceptive to suggestions about improving diversity.
Klawe said that Gates behaved as if he was the 'smartest person in the room' and that diversity was not something Gates 'was interested in hearing about.'
Bill Gates, not pictured, still went on annual vacations to the Outer Banks of North Carolina with his ex-girlfriend Ann Winblad, pictured, the software entrepreneur whom he had dated from 1984 to 1987, even after marrying Melinda Gates
She said that, when female executives would suggest diversity initiatives, Gates would allegedly respond with: 'Are you trying to effing destroy the company?'
A spokesperson for Gates told Insider that Klawe's allegations are a 'gross mischaracterization.'
Gates' relationships and encounters with employees have long been a topic of discussion surrounding the billionaire, the outlet noted.