Jeffrey Epstein allegedly threatened Microsoft co-founder Invoice Gates with particulars on the tech billionaire’s alleged affair with a Russian bridge participant, the Wall Avenue Journal reported.
“Mr. Gates met with Epstein solely for philanthropic functions,” a spokeswoman for Gates informed WSJ. “Having failed repeatedly to attract Mr. Gates past these issues, Epstein tried unsuccessfully to leverage a previous relationship to threaten Mr. Gates.”
Gates met Russian bridge participant Mila Antonova in 2010, when she was in her 20s and Gates in his mid-50s, at a bridge match the place the 2 performed towards one another, in accordance with the Journal. Antonova is originally from Russia, however moved to the U.S. and started working as a software program engineer in Silicon Valley, in accordance with her LinkedIn.
Antonova publicly mentioned assembly the tech billionaire in a 2010 video detailing that she “did not beat” Gates, however “tried to kick him with my leg,” in accordance with WSJ. Gates is a famous lover of the sport of bridge and has even competed towards fellow billionaire Warren Buffett.
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Microsoft co-founder Invoice Gates (Justin Tallis – WPA Pool/Getty Pictures)
After assembly Gates, Antonova sought to begin a web-based enterprise that may train individuals learn how to play bridge. She started reaching out to potential donors, with Gates confidant Boris Nikolic connecting her with Epstein, in accordance with paperwork reviewed by the outlet.
In November 2013, Antonova and Nikolic reportedly met Epstein at his townhome in New York Metropolis to pitch the proposal and attempt to increase $500,000. Epstein in the end didn’t donate to the proposal, dubbed “BridgePlanet,” WSJ reported, citing Antonova.
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“I deeply remorse that I ever met Epstein,” Nikolic highlighted to the outlet. “His crimes have been despicable. I by no means noticed something like his unlawful habits. My coronary heart goes out to his victims and their households.”
The next November, Antonova stayed at an residence offered by Epstein, however “didn’t work together with him or with anybody else whereas there,” she stated. By that 12 months, she had determined to turn out to be a software program engineer and was searching for donors to assist pay for programing lessons.
“Epstein agreed to pay and he paid on to the varsity. Nothing was exchanged. I don’t know why he did that,” she stated, the outlet reported. “After I requested, he stated one thing like, he was rich and needed to assist individuals when he may.”
Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell on March 15, 2005, in New York Metropolis. (Joe Schildhorn/Patrick McMullan by way of Getty Pictures)
In the meantime, Epstein was making an attempt to arrange a multibillion-dollar charitable fund with JPMorgan, partially to reportedly assist restore his public picture following his 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitutes, together with an underage lady. The plan hinged on him getting rich donors, together with Gates, to pool their cash for the fund, in accordance with the report.
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Gates and Epstein had met a handful of occasions earlier than Epstein’s dying in 2019, which Gates later stated he regrets. In emails reviewed by WSJ, Epstein despatched emails to JPMorgan making an attempt to present the impression he was an adviser to Gates. The tech billionaire’s spokeswoman informed the outlet that Epstein by no means labored for Gates and misrepresented their relationship to JPMorgan.
March 28, 2017, photograph of Jeffrey Epstein offered by the New York State Intercourse Offender Registry. (AP, File)
The fund stalled and in the end went nowhere.
“The agency didn’t want him as a shopper,” a JPMorgan spokesman informed WSJ of Epstein. “The agency didn’t want him for introductions. Figuring out what we all know right now, we want we had by no means achieved enterprise with him.”
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In 2017, years after Gates’ alleged relationship with Antonova, Epstein emailed Gates in regards to the bridge participant, sources with information of the incident informed WSJ. Antonova denied offering remark to WSJ about Gates particularly, the outlet famous.
Epstein reportedly requested Gates to reimburse him for the funds used to cowl Antonova’s software program programming lessons. Gates didn’t ship a fee, in accordance with Gates’ spokeswoman.
“Mr. Gates had no monetary dealings with Epstein,” the spokeswoman stated.
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Sources stated the price of the lessons have been irrelevant to each males, however that the tone of the e-mail confirmed Epstein was conscious of the alleged affair and could expose Gates.