Introduction. In late January and early February 2026, the United States Department of Justice released another unprecedented batch of documents related to the case of deceased financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In the media, this material became known as the "Epstein Files." Among millions of pages, letters, and photographs, information emerged directly implicating one of the most famous people on the planet—Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. The publication sparked a wave of discussion and forced the 70-year-old billionaire into an unprecedented public revision of his own past. In late February 2026, Gates gathered employees of his charitable foundation for a closed meeting where he made a series of sensational admissions concerning his connections with Epstein and his personal life. I. Chronology of Acquaintance: From Philanthropic Hopes to Reputational Trap. Bill Gates met Jeffrey Epstein in 2011—three years after Epstein was convicted of procuring a minor for prostitution and had served a prison sentence. According to Gates himself, he knew about certain "18-month restrictions" concerning Epstein but failed to properly investigate his biography. Gates's motives were explained by pragmatic considerations: Epstein possessed extensive connections in the world of the super-wealthy, including Wall Street financiers, and convinced Gates that he could attract billion-dollar donations for global philanthropic projects supported by the Gates Foundation. Over three years—from 2011 to 2014—Gates met with Epstein, flew on his private plane, and spent time in Germany, France, New York, and Washington. However, the billionaire categorically denies ever visiting Epstein's infamous island in the US Virgin Islands or staying overnight at his residence. Even then, these connections caused concern for Gates's wife, Melinda French Gates. In 2013, she openly expressed anxiety about her husband's association with the odious financier, yet Gates continued the ... Читать далее