Epstein’s Alleged Threat to Bill Gates: Power Plays, Philanthropy, and Hidden Affairs

Knowledge Nuggets:

• Jeffrey Epstein reportedly threatened to expose an alleged affair between Bill Gates and Russian bridge player Mila Antonova after Gates refused to join his philanthropic venture.
• Gates and Antonova met in 2010 during a tournament, and Antonova later received financial backing from Epstein for a coding education.
• Following his rejection, Epstein allegedly used the affair to try and leverage Gates, a strategy that ultimately failed.

In an unfolding drama involving some of the world’s most influential figures, Jeffrey Epstein, a disgraced financier, is reported to have used his clout to threaten Bill Gates, the Microsoft co-founder.

The Wall Street Journal, citing sources familiar with the situation, suggests Epstein attempted to expose an alleged affair between Gates and Russian bridge enthusiast Mila Antonova after Gates turned down an offer to join Epstein’s philanthropic venture.

The entanglement between Gates, Antonova, and Epstein began in 2010, when Gates first crossed paths with Antonova at a bridge tournament. Sources suggest a brief romance ensued while Gates was still wedded to Melinda French Gates. Epstein later came into Antonova’s life when she sought financial support for a bridge academy and software coding education.

In a seemingly calculated move in 2017, Epstein demanded that Gates reimburse the expenses of Antonova’s coding education. This demand followed Gates’ decision to refrain from joining Epstein’s proposed multibillion-dollar charity with JPMorgan Chase. Despite Epstein’s coercion, Gates maintained his stance and refused to engage in any financial transactions with him.

The claims levied against Gates have triggered a flurry of responses, with all involved parties expressing their regret over associating with Epstein. The allegations add another layer of complexity to Gates’ personal life, already marked by a previously admitted extramarital affair and an ongoing divorce.

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