SEATTLE — An external review commissioned by the Gates Foundation found no evidence that the organization made payments to Jeffrey Epstein or was involved in any criminal activities tied to him. The law firm WilmerHale conducted the review and released its findings on July 21, 2026.

The investigation was initiated in March 2026 by Gates Foundation CEO Mark Suzman with the support of Chair Bill Gates and the independent members of the Board. The review process included interviews with 50 current and former staff members and an examination of extensive written materials. WilmerHale found no evidence of participation in or knowledge of Epstein’s ongoing sex trafficking operations or criminal activities.

The firm also found no evidence that the foundation was contemporaneously aware of Epstein’s use of the foundation’s name to help advance his conduct. WilmerHale also found no evidence that Epstein was paid by the foundation.

The review determined that Bill Gates and foundation staff held roughly 30 meetings with Epstein between 2011 and 2014. These interactions included several visits to Epstein’s Manhattan townhouse and one meeting held on the Gates Foundation campus. Foundation personnel were introduced to Epstein in 2011 by an advisor who held a dual role at the foundation and in Gates’s personal office.

Bill Gates was aware of Epstein’s prior sex offense conviction when he began conversations with him. The review noted that foundation staff raised concerns about the reputational risks of associating with Epstein on multiple occasions due to his prior conviction.

According to the findings, the foundation's interactions with Epstein focused on two primary matters: a proposed donor-advised fund and engagement with the International Peace Institute. Epstein proposed a donor-advised fund to pool contributions from high-net-worth individuals for global public health initiatives. In December 2014, Bill Gates and foundation staff met with Epstein and potential donors at Epstein’s Manhattan residence to discuss the concept.

He concluded that Epstein had misrepresented the potential donors’ willingness to commit to the donor-advised fund, and the foundation stopped working on the concept. Epstein had misrepresented the potential donors’ knowledge of and willingness to commit to the DAF.

The second area of interaction involved the International Peace Institute. In 2012, Epstein introduced Bill Gates to Terje Rød-Larsen, who was then the president of the institute. In 2013, the Gates Foundation awarded a grant to the International Peace Institute for polio eradication support following a presentation to Gates.

The foundation stated it would expand its policies regarding possible conflicts of interest and improve training on handling sensitive information and records. The Gates Foundation board also approved new safeguards, including a centralized vetting process for potential donors and partners. Suzman said the work they do depends on integrity and earning and maintaining the trust of partners.

The release of the review follows Bill Gates' testimony before the US House Oversight Committee in June 2026 regarding his connections to Epstein. During that testimony, he stated he made "a grave error in judgement" by meeting with Epstein. He accepted the introduction without applying the scrutiny he should have.

He further explained his perspective on the initial meetings. He recalled being aware that Epstein had faced prior legal issues, but did not fully understand the extent of the crimes he committed.

The findings come as Warren Buffett ended donations to the Gates Foundation in July 2026, omitting the organization from his annual charitable stock gifts for the first time since 2006. Buffett has donated more than $47 billion worth of Berkshire stock to the Gates Foundation since 2006. The Gates Foundation held $91 billion in assets as of December 31, 2025.

The Gates Foundation is a private foundation established in 2000 by Bill and Melinda Gates that focuses on global health, education, and poverty alleviation. Bill Gates has given over $50 billion in charitable donations through the foundation since 2000. The organization has a long history of global health and development work, including a commitment to malaria eradication through the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

Epstein was arrested in 2019 for sex trafficking and money laundering, and was later found dead in his prison cell in 2020. He had previously been convicted in 2008 of sex trafficking and had been on probation until 2019.