The co-founder and former chief of Microsoft addressed his connection with him in an interview just two days after his divorce from his ex-wife, Melinda was finalised.

Bill Gates said that socialising with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was a “huge mistake” in an interview with CNN’s Anderson Cooper. The discussion covered Gates’ relationship with Epstein, which he says was an endeavor to get “billions for philanthropy,” also Gates’ supposed workplace misconduct at Microsoft and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Melinda Gates had reportedly been concerned about her husband spending time with Epstein a decade ago. Melinda Gates had reportedly been concerned about her husband spending time with Epstein a decade ago.

“I had several dinners with him, you know, hoping that what he said about getting billions of philanthropy for global health through contacts that he had might emerge,” Gates said.

“When it looked like that wasn’t a real thing, that relationship ended.”

Epstein was a multi-million-dollar hedge fund manager who befriended countless celebrities over the years, including former president Bill Clinton and Britain’s Prince Andrew as well as former US President Donald Trump. Epstein was 66 years old when he killed himself while awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking minors.

Anderson asked Gates if he had any regrets about his dalliance with a Microsoft employee, which was later scrutinized by the Microsoft board, Gates said that everyone has regrets but that he needed to “go forward” with his work.

Gates and his ex-wife, Melinda who co-founded their charity 20 years ago to battle poverty and disease, decided to split up on May 3, after 27 years of their marriage.

The divorce being finalized is a “very sad milestone,” Gates said during the interview.

Bill and Melinda will continue to work together to run their charity but the foundation has announced that Melinda could leave after two years if she and Bill can no longer work together.

“Melinda is a great person, and that partnership we had coming to an end is a source of great personal sadness,” he said, adding that they hope to keep working together at the philanthropy.