In a shocking new twist in the Jeffrey Epstein saga, it has been revealed that the disgraced financier may have attempted to blackmail Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates — leveraging knowledge of a rumored affair with a young Russian bridge player.

According to explosive details first reported by The Wall Street Journal, Epstein allegedly tried to exploit Gates’ alleged relationship with Mila Antonova, a Russian national who met Gates in the 2010s through their shared interest in the card game bridge. While there is no confirmation that any affair took place, sources close to the matter say Epstein was well aware of the connection and used it to his advantage.

The billionaire tech mogul, now 68, is said to have met Antonova at a bridge tournament, where the two struck up a friendship. While she later pursued funding from Epstein for a bridge-related project — which he declined — Epstein allegedly hinted at revealing Gates’ personal involvement with her unless he committed to participating in a charitable venture that Epstein was pushing at the time.

This alleged act of coercion adds yet another dark chapter to Epstein’s long history of manipulating powerful individuals. Epstein, who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges, maintained a high-profile contact list that included billionaires, politicians, and royalty. Gates has since acknowledged meeting Epstein but maintains he deeply regrets doing so and was unaware of the full extent of Epstein’s criminal activities.

A Hidden Threat

The alleged blackmail attempt reportedly took place in 2017, years after Gates and Antonova’s reported interactions. At that time, Epstein emailed Gates suggesting he had knowledge of the rumored relationship — a move that some sources interpreted as an implicit threat.

Spokespeople for Gates have strongly denied any wrongdoing, emphasizing that any suggestion of blackmail did not lead to Gates complying with Epstein’s requests.

“Mr. Gates had no financial or personal ties to Epstein and never agreed to any proposals made by him,” said a representative.

A Cautionary Tale in Elite Circles

The story is a chilling reminder of Epstein’s strategy of entrenching himself in elite networks — not through charm, but through leverage, pressure, and secrets. Experts say the pattern fits with Epstein’s long-term use of sensitive information to gain power over wealthy or influential figures.

The resurfacing of this narrative comes as federal investigations into Epstein’s network continue, with renewed scrutiny of how he operated in proximity to so many high-level individuals for so long.

As for Gates, he remains largely focused on his philanthropic work through the Gates Foundation, but this latest revelation has reignited public curiosity and controversy over his past ties to one of the most reviled criminals of the century.