Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has spoken “candidly” to his employees, admitting to two affairs with Russian women and apologising for his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

But the 70-year-old divorcee insisted that when it came to his meetings with Epstein, he “never stayed overnight” nor visited the paedophile’s notorious island.

The former richest man in the world told the Gates Foundation staff: “I did nothing illicit. I saw nothing illicit.”

The tech boss also insisted that photos of him with women in the Epstein files were pictures Epstein asked him to take with his assistants after their meetings.

Billionaire Bill Gates appears in the Epstein files. Photo: US House Oversight Committee

Gates addressed staff at a town hall-style meeting where they could ask questions.

The Wall Street Journal viewed a recording of the meeting and revealed that Gates said it was a “huge mistake to spend time with Epstein” and to bring Gates Foundation executives to meetings.

He said he had met Epstein in 2011 — years after the financier’s guilty plea for soliciting a minor for prostitution — but didn’t properly check his background.

They remained friendly for several years through to 2014, even after Gates’ then-wife Melinda spoke up against it.

“To give her credit, she was always kind of sceptical about the Epstein thing,” Gates reportedly said.

In a candid admission, Gates said he had two affairs with Russian women while married to Melinda. The couple finalised their divorce in 2021.

Gates said the women were a “Russian bridge player who met me at bridge events, and one with a Russian nuclear physicist who I met through business activities”.

A spokesperson for Gates issued a statement to media outlets about the staff meeting.

“This was a scheduled town hall with employees, which Bill does twice a year. In the conversation, Bill answered questions submitted by foundation staff on a range of issues, including the release of the Epstein files, the foundation’s work in AI, and the future of global health,” it said.

“In the town hall, Bill spoke candidly, addressing several questions in detail, and took responsibility for his actions.”