An independent review has found that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation engaged with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on several occasions but made no payments to him or entities under his control.
The review concluded that while foundation representatives had interactions with Epstein, there was no evidence that the organisation transferred funds to him or that he played any formal role in its grant-making or philanthropic activities.
The review was commissioned as part of the foundation’s efforts to strengthen governance and examine past contacts with Epstein, whose relationships with prominent business and political figures have remained under scrutiny following his 2019 death in a New York jail while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.
The foundation said the findings confirmed that no financial support had been provided to Epstein and that its existing safeguards had since been strengthened to prevent inappropriate engagement with individuals who pose reputational or ethical risks. It added that the review made recommendations aimed at improving due diligence, transparency and oversight of external relationships.
The issue has continued to attract attention because Bill Gates acknowledged meeting Epstein several times after the financier had been convicted of soliciting prostitution from a minor. Gates has previously described those meetings as a mistake and said he regretted having any association with Epstein.
The Gates Foundation said it remains committed to maintaining high standards of accountability and ethical conduct while continuing its work in global health, education and poverty reduction.
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