Per excellent reporting by WSJ

According to individuals with knowledge of the situation, Jeffrey Epstein uncovered an affair between Bill Gates and a Russian bridge player, subsequently using this information as a means to intimidate one of the wealthiest individuals globally.

During approximately 2010, the co-founder of Microsoft encountered the woman, who was in her twenties at the time. Epstein encountered her in 2013 and later financed her enrollment in a software coding school. In 2017, Epstein sent an email to Gates, requesting reimbursement for the expenses incurred by the course, as per the sources.

The email emerged after the convicted sex offender had faced difficulties in persuading Gates to participate in a charitable fund worth billions of dollars, which Epstein attempted to establish with JPMorgan Chase. People who have seen the message suggest that its implication was that Epstein could expose the affair if Gates did not maintain their association.

A spokesperson for Gates stated, "Mr. Gates engaged with Epstein exclusively for philanthropic reasons. After repeated attempts to involve Mr. Gates in matters beyond this scope, Epstein unsuccessfully resorted to exploiting a previous relationship in order to threaten Mr. Gates."