“His lifestyle is very different and kind of intriguing,although it would not work for me,” Gates emailed colleagues in 2011,after their first meeting. A spokesperson for Gates toldThe Times that he “was referring only to the unique décor of the Epstein residence — and Epstein’s habit of spontaneously bringing acquaintances in to meet Mr Gates.”
On Cooper’s show,Gates said:“I had several dinners with him,hoping that what he said about getting billions of philanthropy for global health,through contacts that he had,might emerge. When it looked like that wasn’t a real thing,that relationship ended. But it was a huge mistake to spend time with him,to give him the credibility of being there.”
He added,“You know,there were lots of others in that same situation,but I made a mistake.”
Cooper asked Gates about another article inThe Times,which this year reported on his wife’s concerns about his workplace behaviour. In 2018, before their divorce,Melinda French Gates had raised issues about her husband’s relationship with Epstein and a harassment claim against his money manager. On at least a few occasions,Gates pursued women who worked for him at Microsoft and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation,according to the reporting.
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Asked on Wednesday if he had regrets,Gates replied:“Certainly,everyone does.” He added later,“Within the family,we’ll heal as best we can,and learn from what’s happened.”
Gates,the Microsoft founder,has a net worth estimated at $US130 billion ($176 billion),and the Gates Foundation now has an endowment of $US65 billion,by most measures making it the largest private charitable foundation in the world.