July 14 (DGR News) — Billionaire investor Warren Buffett has ended his long-running financial support for the Gates Foundation, bringing to a close a philanthropic partnership that lasted nearly two decades. The decision follows renewed scrutiny surrounding Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates over his past contacts with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Buffett announced on Tuesday that he will donate approximately $6 billion worth of Berkshire Hathaway stock as part of his annual charitable giving programme. The donation consists of 12 million Class B shares and will be distributed among four charitable foundations managed by his children—Susie, Howard and Peter Buffett.
Notably absent from this year’s donation was the Gates Foundation, which had been one of the largest beneficiaries of Buffett’s fortune since 2006.
End of a Longstanding Partnership
Since pledging his fortune to philanthropy in 2006, Buffett had donated more than $47 billion in Berkshire Hathaway shares to the Gates Foundation. At the time, he described the commitment as irrevocable and said the foundation could rely on his donations to significantly expand its global charitable work.
However, Tuesday’s announcement made no reference to the foundation, marking a significant shift in Buffett’s charitable strategy.
The 95-year-old investor said his remaining wealth will ultimately be transferred to the four family foundations.
“Mortality is unpredictable, but my remaining shares will be donated to the four foundations one way or another by December 31, 2034,” Buffett said in a statement.
Donations Redirected to Family Foundations
Under the latest distribution, Buffett will donate:
- 9 million Berkshire Hathaway Class B shares to the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation
- 1 million shares each to the:
- Howard G. Buffett Foundation
- Sherwood Foundation
- NoVo Foundation
The Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation focuses primarily on reproductive health initiatives. The Howard G. Buffett Foundation supports projects addressing global hunger, conflict mitigation and human trafficking. The Sherwood Foundation funds education and nonprofit organisations, while the NoVo Foundation works on programmes supporting women, girls and Indigenous communities.
Together, the four foundations received approximately $2.8 billion in Berkshire shares during 2025 and more than $17 billion since 2006.
Gates Under Renewed Scrutiny
Buffett’s decision comes months after the U.S. Department of Justice released documents relating to Jeffrey Epstein, which renewed public attention on Bill Gates’ previous meetings with the disgraced financier.
The released materials reportedly included photographs showing Gates with Epstein and communications involving Epstein and foundation staff. Gates has not been accused of any criminal wrongdoing.
Earlier this year, Buffett acknowledged that he had not spoken with Gates since the release of the Epstein-related documents, despite their decades-long friendship.
The Gates Foundation did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Berkshire Hathaway also declined additional comment.
Legal Questions Over Buffett’s Earlier Pledge
Buffett’s original 2006 commitment stated that the Gates Foundation could depend on his donations to permanently expand its charitable operations.
That earlier pledge has prompted questions over whether the foundation could have any legal claim if future donations ceased.
Boston College law professor Ray Madoff said promises to make future gifts are generally not legally enforceable unless supported by legal consideration.
However, she noted that Buffett’s assurance that the foundation could rely on his donations to expand its activities could potentially create legal questions if the organisation had made long-term commitments based on that expectation.
Gates Has Repeatedly Addressed Epstein Relationship
Bill Gates has previously acknowledged meeting Jeffrey Epstein several times after Epstein’s 2008 conviction in Florida involving the solicitation of a minor.
According to Gates, the meetings began in 2011 and centred on potential philanthropic initiatives that ultimately produced no meaningful partnership. He said the relationship ended by late 2014.
Gates has also stated that Epstein later attempted to use knowledge of his personal life to pressure him into renewing contact, an effort Gates said was unsuccessful.
The Microsoft co-founder has repeatedly expressed regret over meeting Epstein, denied participating in any criminal conduct, and said he never witnessed abuse involving Epstein or his associates.
Epstein died in a New York jail in August 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. Authorities ruled his death a suicide.
Buffett Continues Giving Away Fortune
Buffett has now donated well over half of his Berkshire Hathaway holdings since launching his philanthropic programme nearly two decades ago.
Before the latest share transfer, he owned roughly 14% of Berkshire Hathaway and had an estimated personal fortune of $147 billion, according to Forbes.
He has previously stated that approximately 99.5% of his remaining wealth will eventually be placed in a charitable trust managed by his three children after his death.
A Changing Relationship
Buffett and Gates were once among the most prominent figures in global philanthropy, frequently appearing together at Berkshire Hathaway shareholder meetings in Omaha, Nebraska.
Gates stepped down from Berkshire Hathaway’s board in 2020 after serving for 16 years. Buffett later resigned as a trustee of the Gates Foundation in 2021 following Bill and Melinda French Gates’ divorce, while later indicating that his charitable giving plans would eventually shift away from the foundation.
This year’s donation confirms that Buffett’s future philanthropy will now be directed exclusively through his family’s charitable organisations.
