Microsoft founder Bill Gates admitted in a new interview that he "shouldn't have had dinners" with late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

During an interview with Australia's ABC "7 .30," presenter Sarah Ferguson asked Gates if he "regrets the relationship" he had with Epstein and going against his ex-wife Melinda Gates' advice.

He then replied: "You're going way back in time. I will say for the over a hundredth time, I shouldn't have had dinners with him."

Ferguson also asked if Melinda warned him about Epstein's "way of sexually compromising people," to which the billionaire answered, "no."

Gates also denied that there was a relationship of any kind between Epstein and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

According to The Hill, Gates started meeting with Epstein in 2011 after the late sex offender was convicted of sex crimes in Florida. In 2019, he told The Wall Street Journal that he did not have a business relationship or friendship with Epstein.

Since then, Gates has repeatedly said that he regretted meeting Epstein. He told NBC's Savannah Guthrie last year that his meetings with Epstein were a "huge mistake."

READ NEXT: Bill Gates Faces Sexual Misconduct Claims After Divorce 

Bill Gates' Relationship With Jeffrey Epstein

In a 2021 interview with Anderson Cooper, Bill Gates noted that he only met with Jeffrey Epstein in the hopes of raising more money to address global health issues.

According to CNN Business, the billionaire noted that he had several dinners with Epstein, hoping that what the disgraced financier said about getting billions for philanthropy for global health through contracts might emerge.

Gates added that the relationship ended when it seemed it was not "a real thing." Aside from Gates, employees of his foundation also visited Epstein's mansion several times.

In 2011, Gates emailed colleagues after his first meeting with Epstein, saying that the financier's lifestyle "is very different and kind of intriguing."

A Gates spokeswoman, Bridgitt Arnold, commented at the time that the Microsoft founder was referring to the unique décor of the Epstein residence, The New York Times reported.

Arnold clarified that it was not meant to "convey a sense of interest or approval." Gates and his foundation have promoted the well-being of young girls. Gates and Epstein met after the latter had served jail time for soliciting prostitution from a minor.

Epstein then had to register as a sex offender. Arnold said Gates "regrets ever meeting with Epstein," adding that the founder of the Gates foundation recognized it as an "error in judgment."

Bill Gates' Divorce

Aside from his repeated comments of regretting ever meeting Jeffrey Epstein, there were also reports that Bill Gates' connection with the late sex offender was a contributing factor to his divorce.

Melinda Gates previously said in a CBS Mornings interview she did not like that Gates had meetings with Epstein, adding that she "made that clear to him."

She added that she met Epstein once due to curiosity about who he was and described him as "abhorrent" and "evil personified."

Melinda also opened up about Gates' alleged affair with a Microsoft employee, saying it came to the point that she could not "trust" what they had.

READ MORE: Bill Gates Turned a Blind Eye to Jeffrey Epstein's Reputation for a Nobel Peace Prize 

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Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Bill Gates Admits He Regrets Having Dinners With Jeffrey Epstein - From Sky News Australia