Jeffrey Epstein tried to blackmail Bill Gates over an affair Gates had with a Russian woman named Mila Antonova, using money Epstein had given her as leverage. This comes after Gates recently admitted to having affairs during his 27-year marriage to Melinda French Gates.
Gates made the confession at a town hall meeting for his Gates Foundation, telling staff he had affairs, specifically mentioning “one with a Russian bridge player… and one with a Russian nuclear physicist.” He maintained that he never did anything “illicit” with Epstein. Melinda French Gates has largely pointed to Gates’ friendship with Epstein as a major reason their marriage broke down.
According to the New York Post, Gates was 53 when he was first seen with Antonova, who was in her twenties, at a national bridge event in Washington, DC. Antonova once joked about their introduction, saying she “didn’t beat him, but I tried to kick him,” adding that she had spent years hoping to meet him.
Epstein used financial help he gave Antonova to threaten Gates into paying him money
One of Gates’ main advisers, Boris Nikolic, introduced Antonova to Epstein in 2013, after Epstein had already been convicted of child-sex offenses. Antonova was looking for money to fund an online business teaching people how to play bridge, and Epstein also paid for her to attend a programming camp.
Epstein’s pattern of using financial assistance to manipulate people extended beyond this case, as new emails show Sarah Ferguson begged Epstein for a job as his house assistant. Antonova said, “Nothing was exchanged. I don’t know why he did that. When I asked, he said something like he was wealthy and wanted to help people when he could.”
However, Epstein used this financial assistance as a tool to pressure Gates into paying him money, threatening to expose Gates’ affair to Melinda. A spokesperson for Gates confirmed that Epstein “tried unsuccessfully to leverage a past relationship to threaten Mr. Gates.”
In a July 2017 email released by the Department of Justice, Epstein wrote to Nikolic, branding Gates “so cheap” for how he had treated Antonova. “After I sent her that note she said she had little money, couldn’t afford air conditioner, was living on a friends couch. Really needed money. I sent her some,” Epstein wrote.
He continued, “Your friend Bill is nuts. His former girl. Can’t afford air con. Can’t afford to travel to bridge. The richest man in the world is so cheap, his former bridge girl and toy, lives on a friends sofa.” Despite the threats, Gates never paid Epstein, according to his spokesperson.
Antonova said she had no idea about Epstein’s behavior when he helped her. She said, “I had no idea that he was a criminal or had any ulterior motive. I just thought he was a successful businessman and wanted to help. I am disgusted with Epstein and what he did.”
Nikolic added, “I deeply regret that I ever met Epstein. His crimes were despicable. I never saw anything like his illegal behavior. My heart goes out to his victims and their families.” Melinda French Gates has not commented on Gates’ recent confession, but previously said it was painful each time new details came out.
She shared, “For me, it’s personally hard whenever those details come up, right? Because it brings back memories of some very, very painful times in my marriage.” Epstein’s victims continue to seek justice and accountability, and Epstein survivors say AG Pam Bondi’s hearing felt dismissive of their experiences. Gates has repeatedly expressed regret over his association with Epstein, saying, “I did nothing illicit. I saw nothing illicit. To be clear, I never spent any time with the victims, the women around him.”
Published: Feb 26, 2026 12:19 pm