Monday May 22, 2023
According to The Wall Street Journal, Jeffrey Epstein, a billionaire financier and convicted pedophile, allegedly used knowledge of an affair between Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and a Russian bridge player to threaten Gates. Epstein learned of the affair when the woman in question was in her twenties and used the information to take advantage of Gates, one of the richest people in the world.
Gates and the woman met around 2010, while Epstein met her in 2013 and financed her enrollment in a software programming school. In 2017, Epstein emailed Gates asking for reimbursement for a coding course and hinted that he might expose the affair if Gates cut off their connection. Gates' spokesman said their meetings were strictly for philanthropy and Epstein's attempt to exploit their past relationship was unsuccessful.
Epstein had been facing charges of sexually abusing underage girls since 2006. He pleaded guilty in 2008, serving time in prison and becoming a registered sex offender. Epstein was arrested on sex-trafficking charges in 2019 and died in prison awaiting trial in what was ruled a suicide.
Gates, the 67-year-old co-founder of Microsoft, admitted he had met with Epstein to discuss philanthropy but considered it a mistake. Epstein claimed to have connections to potential donors to the Gates Foundation, which focuses on global health initiatives. Gates cut ties with Epstein, acknowledging that their meeting did not produce the desired results.
The alleged Russian bridge player has been identified as Mila Antonova. Antonova did not comment, but expressed ignorance of Epstein's crimes when they met and believed he was a successful businessman who wanted to help. Epstein sought connections, but turned against them when relations soured. Gates had more than a dozen scheduled meetings with Epstein in 2011, including dinner at Epstein's New York townhouse and a flight on his private jet.
In September 2014, Gates and Epstein spent a significant part of the day together in New York, where they met with other billionaires. An avid bridge player, Gates shared this interest with Antonova, who founded a bridge club and worked as a software engineer.
Seeking funding for her online bridge teaching, Antonova met Epstein through Boris Nikolic, a confidant and scientific advisor to Gates, who also knew Epstein. When attempts at funding failed, Antonova applied for a loan for a programming course that Epstein covered directly. Epstein also met with Nathan Myhrvold, the chief executive of Microsoft. Nikolic regretted associating with Epstein and expressed sympathy for his victims.
