In a series of emails released by the Department of Justice, convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein revealed his extensive financial support for Mila Antonova, a woman who reportedly had a relationship with Bill Gates. Epstein demanded reimbursement from Gates for these payments, including housing and educational expenses, according to documents reviewed by Fortune.
The emails, dating from 2013 to at least 2018, show Epstein actively managing Antonova’s visa, wiring her cash, and providing her with accommodation in his Manhattan apartments. He also covered the costs of her coding education. Epstein’s communications with Gates’ chief of staff, Larry Cohen, indicate a deliberate effort to leverage his financial assistance to Antonova into a closer relationship with the Microsoft cofounder.
Epstein’s Pressure Campaign
Epstein repeatedly invoked the concept of “friendship” while pressing Cohen and Gates for repayment. In a July 2017 email, he quoted what he claimed were Gates’ own words, suggesting a three-year period for housing and bankrolling Antonova after her relationship with Gates concluded. Epstein highlighted Antonova’s sacrifices, including stopping bridge tournaments and living without air conditioning, to underscore his financial commitment.
Antonova’s attorney stated that she was unaware of Epstein’s efforts to pressure Gates and that she “naively accepted” his help, believing he intended to assist her. She confirmed that Antonova had a relationship with Gates that began around 2010 after meeting at a bridge tournament.
‘Mila Happened’: The Connection to Boris Nikolic
The connection between Epstein, Antonova, and Gates appears to have been facilitated by Boris Nikolic, who was a chief science adviser at the Gates Foundation and Gates’ investment firm, Bgc3. Nikolic exchanged thousands of emails with Epstein between 2009 and 2019.
In May 2013, Nikolic inquired about assisting Antonova with her visa status, describing her as a Russian friend who had overstayed her visa. He offered to cover the costs, though Antonova’s attorney stated that she and her then-husband ultimately paid for the immigration attorney. Antonova’s last contact with Gates, according to her lawyers, was in May 2013.
Around the same period, Nikolic’s working relationship with Gates began to deteriorate. By September 2013, Nikolic had left the Gates Foundation. In a November 2013 email to Epstein, Nikolic referenced “Mila happened” as a turning point in his relationship with Gates, suggesting it contributed to their professional separation. Gates later confirmed having affairs, including one with a Russian bridge player, and stated that Nikolic was aware of them.
Epstein’s Financial Support for Antonova
Starting in July 2013, Epstein began inquiring about Antonova’s status and later provided her with financial support. Emails to his accountant, Richard Kahn, show instructions to send money to Antonova. Correspondence with Epstein’s assistant, Leslie Groff, also details arrangements for Antonova to stay in Epstein’s apartments.
Antonova’s attorney confirmed that Epstein provided “several unsolicited monetary gifts,” funded her coding education, and allowed her to use his apartments between 2014 and 2018. She met Epstein in person only twice and had no reason to believe he was using her situation for leverage.
Gates’s Response and Epstein’s Final Attempts
By mid-2016, Gates had significantly reduced direct contact with Epstein, with subsequent communications filtered through Cohen. Despite this, Epstein continued his efforts to pressure Gates, emailing Nikolic in June 2016 that he was still supporting Antonova and had paid for her computer school.
In July 2017, Epstein informed Cohen that he had heard from an “old friend” of Gates and planned to continue funding Antonova, noting he had received neither thanks nor reimbursement. He set a deadline for Cohen to respond.
Privately, Epstein expressed frustration with Gates’s perceived stinginess, calling him “nuts” in an email to Nikolic. He continued to press Cohen and Gates for a meeting and reimbursement, even after Gates had reportedly stopped communicating with him directly.
In January 2019, shortly before his arrest, Epstein directly emailed Gates, stating, “I think at some point you want to reimburse me… I feel awkward asking.” He also requested a meeting with Gates and Cohen. It remains unclear if Epstein received a response before his arrest.
A spokesperson for Gates stated that Gates regrets meeting with Epstein and that the released files illustrate Epstein’s persistent efforts to insert himself into Gates’s life. The spokesperson emphasized that Gates never witnessed or engaged in any illicit or illegal behavior.
Bill Gates has since testified before the House Committee regarding his ties to Epstein.
Fonte: Fortune
