Bill Gates expresses regret over meetings with Jeffrey Epstein

Bill Gates has expressed regret over his contact with Jeffrey Epstein as the Microsoft co-founder acknowledged he met the now-deceased sex offender on several occasions.

The world’s second-richest man said in a statement through a spokesperson that he recognised it was “an error in judgment” ever to have met Epstein, who committed suicide two months ago while facing charges of trafficking underage girls.

His comments came after Mr Gates, who is one of the world’s most prominent philanthropists, was reported to have had a closer relationship with the disgraced money manager than previously acknowledged.

The statement said the Microsoft billionaire recognised he had “entertained Epstein’s ideas related to philanthropy”. This had given Epstein “an undeserved platform”.

Mr Gates is among several prominent figures to have moved in recent weeks to distance themselves from Epstein, who cultivated a network of rich and powerful associates from business, academia, politics and royalty.

His meetings with Epstein included three at the financier’s Manhattan mansion, and he also considered a philanthropic fundraising partnership, according to the New York Times. It said meetings between the two began in 2011 — after Epstein had received a 13-month jail sentence in exchange for pleading guilty to soliciting prostitution.

As he was trying to secure Mr Gates’ philanthropic support, Epstein told associates of his foundation that his offence had been no worse than “stealing a bagel”, the report said.

The new details of the contact between the two men follow a report in the New Yorker magazine last month that said Mr Gates had made a $2m donation to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s prestigious Media Lab at Epstein’s behest.

Mr Gates’ spokesperson said at the weekend that the Microsoft founder had initially met Epstein at the suggestion of several high-profile individuals who said the financier claimed to be able to raise hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of philanthropic funds.

“Although Epstein pursued Gates aggressively, Gates had absolutely no business partnership or personal friendship with Epstein,” the statement said. “Gates never socialised with Epstein or attended parties with him.”

It said Mr Gates met Epstein “multiple times to discuss philanthropy and the work of his foundation”. However, “over time, Gates and his team realised Epstein’s capabilities and ideas were not legitimate” and all contact was discontinued.

Before Epstein’s death in a New York jail cell US authorities accused him of recruiting girls to give him massages at his properties, where he would sexually abuse them and pay them hundreds of dollars in cash afterwards. He had denied the charges.

Les Wexner, the head of Victoria’s Secret parent company L Brands who was for decades a client of Epstein, said last month he was “embarrassed” by his relationship with the deceased financier.

Joi Ito, head of MIT’s Media Lab, stepped down over revelations that he had concealed donations from Epstein.