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Warren Buffett omits annual donation to Bill Gates’ foundation after his Epstein ties were disclosed

Billionaire investor Warren Buffett has stopped donating to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, ending a two-decade philanthropic partnership after disclosures about Bill Gates' ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Buffett will redirect approximately $6 billion in Berkshire Hathaway stock to four family foundations.

By Tertius News AI Desk 5 outlets · 6 articles Version 1 Coverage Jul 14–15, 2026 Published Aug 15

Warren Buffett Ends Gates Foundation Donations Following Epstein Revelations

Billionaire investor Warren Buffett has omitted the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation from his annual donations, ending a two-decade philanthropic partnership after revelations about Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates' interactions with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

According to reports from ABC Australia, The Guardian, Jerusalem Post, South China Morning Post, and The Hindu, Buffett announced on Tuesday that he will donate about $6 billion of Berkshire Hathaway stock to four foundations connected to his own family, but did not mention the Gates Foundation in his statement. The Gates Foundation has received more than $47 billion of Berkshire stock since Buffett's 2006 pledge to give away his fortune.

Buffett, 95, said in his statement: "Of course, mortality is unpredictable, but my remaining shares will be donated to the four foundations one way or the other by December 31, 2034." He also expressed his desire to have all of his remaining Berkshire Hathaway stock, worth more than $140 billion, donated to charity by the end of 2034, a change from his previous plan for his children to distribute his fortune within 10 years of his death.

Buffett's decision comes following the U.S. Department of Justice's release in February of files about Gates' relationship with Epstein, who died in a Manhattan jail cell in August 2019 after his arrest on sex trafficking charges. New York City's medical examiner ruled the death a suicide. Gates has repeatedly expressed regret for his association with Epstein but has not been accused of crimes.

In an interview with CNBC, Buffett said he had informed Gates of his decision three weeks ago when Gates visited Omaha. "I reevaluated my whole situation," Buffett said. "It did not come as a surprise." He added: "I had read what Congress came up with. I'd read everything."

The majority of Buffett's charitable gifts, worth more than $61 billion, have gone to the Gates Foundation since 2006. This year's donation of about $6 billion will be distributed among the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation (approximately $4.5 billion) and the Sherwood Foundation, Howard G. Buffett Foundation, and Novo Foundation (approximately $500 million each), which are run by his children.

Buffett's donation total is similar to last year's, but the shift in allocation marks the end of a major philanthropic relationship. The Gates Foundation and Berkshire Hathaway did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Gates, 70, has seen his reputation tarnished by the disclosures, which included photos of him posing with Epstein and emails showing communications between Epstein and foundation staff. In June, Gates told Congress he "did not fully understand the extent" of Epstein's crimes when he associated with him.