When you think of the world’s richest men, you’d expect their memorabilia to include awards, photos with dignitaries, maybe even a few eccentric art pieces.
But inside Jeffrey Epstein’s lavish Manhattan townhouse, one peculiar item stood out: a single dollar bill signed by none other than Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates.
And the message scribbled on it? “I was wrong!” — a note that The New York Times suggests might have been linked to a bet.
Framed like a prized possession, this dollar wasn’t just tucked away in a drawer.
It was right there in Epstein’s living room, sitting on a credenza surrounded by photographs with global power players — including Pope John Paul II, Fidel Castro, Elon Musk, Bill Clinton, and Donald Trump.
Gates and Epstein: A Regrettable Connection
The photo of Gates’ signed dollar adds yet another layer to the long-debated relationship between the tech billionaire and Epstein.
Gates met with the convicted sex offender multiple times starting in 2011, including at least three documented visits to Epstein’s Manhattan residence.
In one 2011 email, Gates described Epstein’s lifestyle as “very different and kind of intriguing,” but added that it wouldn’t work for him.
Over the years, Gates has openly admitted that these meetings were a “huge” mistake, calling them a significant lapse in judgment.
Melinda Gates Speaks Out
Gates’ now ex-wife, Melinda, hasn’t held back when it comes to her views on Epstein — or her husband’s association with him.
In a candid interview with CBS’s Gayle King, she revealed she had met Epstein once and instantly regretted it.
“I had nightmares after that meeting,” Melinda confessed. “He was abhorrent.
Evil personified. That’s how I felt — and I’m an older woman. My heart breaks for the young women involved.”
She also said she made her disapproval of Bill’s meetings with Epstein very clear.
That discomfort reportedly played a role in the unraveling of their marriage.
The Gates Foundation Responds
Back in 2021, a spokesperson for Gates clarified the billionaire’s stance.
They acknowledged that even entertaining Epstein’s philanthropic ideas gave him a platform he did not deserve — one that conflicted with the values of both Gates himself and the Gates Foundation.
Importantly, Bill Gates has never been accused of any wrongdoing related to Epstein.
Epstein’s Photo Wall and What It Says
The dollar bill and the surrounding photos — including a well-known shot of Epstein with Donald and Melania Trump, notably cropped to remove Ghislaine Maxwell — paint a picture of a man deeply obsessed with power, influence, and keeping records of it.
The newly surfaced image came out just as questions grow louder over the U.S. Department of Justice’s decision to withhold certain Epstein investigation files.
And that leads to another name dragged into the controversy — former President Donald Trump.
Trump, Epstein, and the Withheld Files
According to the Wall Street Journal, Trump was privately informed by Attorney General Pam Bondi that his name appears multiple times in Epstein-related files.
But, crucially, he has not been implicated in any criminal activity or connected directly to Epstein’s trafficking crimes.
Despite that, Bondi advised Trump earlier this year not to release more of the Epstein files.
Her reasoning? The documents allegedly include child pornography and sensitive victim information, and releasing them could be dangerous.
Trump reportedly left the decision up to his AG.
The MAGA Base Turns on Bondi
This behind-the-scenes decision hasn’t sat well with many in the MAGA base.
Earlier this year, Bondi appeared on Fox News claiming she had Epstein’s “client list” sitting right on her desk.
But she later backtracked, saying no such list actually existed — leaving many supporters confused and frustrated.
Her contradictory statements have only added to suspicions that powerful names might be shielded from exposure, further deepening public mistrust.