Warren Buffett, the chairman of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK), has reportedly decided to put his usual midyear donation to the Gates Foundation on hold. That's a big deal — it's the first time in twenty years he's done this. The reason? He wants to see the results of an internal review into the foundation's ties with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
According to a report from The Wall Street Journal on Monday, Buffett's team has been in touch with Gates Foundation CEO Mark Suzman during the review. The findings are expected later this summer, and Buffett could announce his final decision in his annual Thanksgiving letter. Since 2006, Buffett has donated over $43 billion to the foundation as part of a "lifetime" pledge.
Berkshire Hathaway and the Gates Foundation didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.
Buffett Cites Legal Concerns
Back in March, Buffett said he hadn't spoken to Bill Gates since the release of the Epstein Files — his first public comments on the matter. Despite their long friendship and shared philanthropy, Buffett said he's been keeping his distance. His reasoning? He doesn't want to end up in a position where he knows something that could force him to testify as a witness.
"I think until it gets cleared up, it doesn't make sense to do a lot of talking," Buffett said.
Buffett acknowledged that he and Gates had a strong relationship and that Gates treated him exceptionally well. But the legendary investor emphasized that his role in Gates' philanthropic work was limited to writing checks. He'd rather not have to recount decades-old conversations in a courtroom.
Emails and photos released by the Department of Justice and Congress since late 2025 have shed light on Bill Gates' ties with Epstein. In June testimony before the House Oversight Committee, Gates called meeting Epstein a "grave error in judgment," denied witnessing or participating in any criminal conduct, and said he only learned Epstein was a registered sex offender in 2018 after the Miami Herald investigation into his 2008 plea deal.
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