Bill Gates Foundation's meetings with Jeffrey Epstein revealed in external review
Consensus Summary
An external review commissioned by the Gates Foundation found that Bill Gates and foundation staff met with Jeffrey Epstein roughly 30 times between 2011 and 2014 despite concerns raised by staff about Epsteinâs prior 2008 sex offence conviction. The review, conducted by WilmerHale and released on Tuesday after about five months and more than 50 interviews, concluded there was no evidence the foundation participated in or knew of Epsteinâs ongoing criminal activities or that Epstein was paid by the foundation. Gates was introduced to Epstein in 2011 by a shared adviser and their interactions centered on philanthropic efforts, including a proposed donor-advised fund and the International Peace Institute, which later received foundation grants. The review also found that Gates was aware of Epsteinâs past conviction and that foundation staff repeatedly raised concerns about associating with him. Both sources agree the foundationâs interactions with Epstein ended in December 2014, and Gates has expressed regret for his past association. The foundationâs governing board approved new vetting and risk management measures following the review.
â Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- There were roughly 30 meetings between Jeffrey Epstein and Gates Foundation leaders/staff (including Bill Gates) between 2011 and 2014
- The review was commissioned in March and its summary was released on Tuesday
- The review took about five months and was based on more than 50 interviews with current and former foundation personnel, including Gates
- WilmerHale found no evidence of participation in or knowledge of Epsteinâs ongoing sex trafficking operations or criminal activities
- Gates was introduced to Epstein in 2011 by an adviser who held a dual role at the foundation and in Gatesâs personal office
- The foundationâs interactions with Epstein involved discussions about a potential donor-advised fund entity and Gatesâs engagement with a nonprofit (International Peace Institute) that later became a grantee
- Gates was aware of Epsteinâs 2008 sex offence conviction when he began conversations with him in 2011
- Foundation staff raised concerns about associating with Epstein due to his prior conviction, and those concerns were raised to senior leadership, including Gates
- The foundationâs governing board approved recommendations to create a centralized vetting process for brokers, donor advisers, and others connected to the foundation
- Gates apologized to foundation employees during a February town-hall meeting for his past ties to Epstein
- The foundationâs interactions with Epstein ended in December 2014
- The review found no evidence that Epstein was paid by the foundation or that the foundation was aware of Epsteinâs use of its name to advance his conduct
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- The Gates Foundation said earlier this year it was aware of emails in the Epstein files between Jeffrey Epstein and Gates Foundation staff
- Gates testified in June in front of the House committee on oversight and reform and told lawmakers he 'never witnessed nor had any indication' that Epstein was 'engaged in ongoing criminal conduct'
- The foundationâs meetings with Epstein focused on the DAF concept, donor engagement, the foundationâs polio strategy, and introductions to IPI
- The foundationâs interactions with Epstein involved two matters: discussions about the potential creation of a donor-advised fund entity and Gatesâs engagement with a nonprofit organization that later became a foundation grantee
- The foundation created an 'escalation process for organizational risks on projects' as part of its recommendations
- Epstein was convicted on state charges of soliciting a minor for prostitution and soliciting prostitution in 2008 and served 13 months in jail
- In 2012, Epstein introduced Gates to Terje Rød-Larsen, then the president of the International Peace Institute, and the Gates Foundation reached a grant agreement related to polio eradication with the International Peace Institute the following year
- Terje Rød-Larsen resigned in 2020 over his connections to Epstein
- The review said Gates concluded Epstein had 'misrepresented' the donors' willingness to contribute and the foundation stopped working on the donor-advised fund concept in December 2014
- The foundationâs dealings with Epstein in a 'personal capacity' were not investigated, and investigators did not have access to Gatesâs personal communications with Epstein
- A picture of Bill Gates with an unknown woman was released by the House Oversight Committee Democrats in December 2014
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The Guardian states Gates apologized during a February town-hall meeting, while ABC does not mention the specific month of the apology but refers to it as part of Gates's repeated expressions of regret
- The Guardian mentions Gates testified in June in front of the House committee on oversight and reform, while ABC states Gates told Congress last month (not specified) that meetings with Epstein focused on possible philanthropy
Source Articles
Bill Gates foundation met with Jeffrey Epstein about 30 times, external review finds
Staff âraised on multiple occasionsâ risks of tech mogulâs philanthropic body associating with disgraced financier A new external review commissioned by the Gates Foundation has found that there were âroughly 30 meetingsâ between Jeffrey Epstein and foundation leaders and staff â including Bill Gates â between 2011 and 2014, even as foundation staff âraised on multiple occasions the risks of associating with Epstein because of his prior convictionâ. The Gates foundation commissioned the review i
Gates Foundation met with Epstein about 30 times, review finds
Bill Gates was aware of Jeffrey Epstein's 2008 sex offence conviction during their association, an external review of the Gates Foundation finds.