Bill Gates’ Russian mistress and the Epstein connection: What we know

Billionaire Bill Gates publicly acknowledged having two extramarital affairs during his 27-year marriage to Melinda French Gates. One of these relationships allegedly involved a Russian woman, Mila Antonova, who, according to sources, received financial support from the infamous convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Reports suggest Epstein attempted to leverage this information to pressure Gates, according to NYP.

During a staff meeting at the Gates Foundation, the tech mogul admitted: "I had affairs—one with a Russian bridge player… and one with a Russian nuclear physicist."

Gates emphasized that he did not engage in any illegal activity with Epstein, though his association with the late financier reportedly contributed to the breakdown of his marriage.

How Gates Met Antonova

Gates was first seen with Antonova at a national bridge tournament in Washington, D.C., when he was 53 and she was in her early twenties. Antonova later described their initial encounter as tense: "I didn’t hit him, but I tried to kick him," she joked a year later at an event in New York. The exact timeline and duration of their relationship remain unclear.

Epstein’s Money and the Hidden Agenda

According to Antonova, Gates’ adviser Boris Nikolic introduced her to Epstein in 2013, at a time when Epstein already had convictions for crimes against minors. Antonova was seeking funding for an online bridge school and received support from Epstein.

"He agreed to pay. He didn’t ask for anything in return. I don’t know why he did it. He said something like, 'I’m rich and I want to help when I can,’" Antonova recalled.

However, later reports indicated Epstein’s motive was darker: he allegedly tried to coerce Gates into returning the funds by threatening to reveal the affair to his ex-wife. Gates’ representatives stated that the billionaire never succumbed to the attempted blackmail: "Epstein tried to use past relationships to threaten Mr. Gates, but unsuccessfully."

Reactions from Antonova and Nikolic

Antonova claimed she was unaware of Epstein’s criminal past: "I thought he was a successful businessman who wanted to help. I abhor Epstein and what he did."

Boris Nikolic also expressed regret for his role: "I deeply regret ever meeting Epstein. His crimes are disgusting. My heart goes out to the victims and their families."

Melinda Gates has not publicly commented on the new revelations about the affairs but has previously acknowledged how difficult it is to confront painful details from her marriage: "Personally, it’s hard when these details come to light. It brings back very painful memories of my marriage."

Bill Gates reiterated that he was never involved in Epstein’s crimes: "I did nothing illegal. I saw nothing illegal. I never spent time with victims or women associated with him."