US investor Warren Buffett has announced he will no longer include the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in his substantial annual charitable donations. The move comes after new information emerged last autumn regarding Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates' connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Buffett's latest philanthropic commitment, announced on Tuesday, will see approximately £4.7 billion (equivalent to around $6 billion USD) distributed among four foundations linked to his own family. Notably absent from this list is the Gates Foundation, which has historically been the primary recipient of Buffett's generosity. Since 2006, the majority of his charitable contributions, totalling over £48 billion, have been directed towards the foundation co-chaired by Bill Gates.
In a related development, Mr. Buffett also outlined his intention to donate all of his remaining Berkshire Hathaway stock, currently valued at more than £110 billion, to charity by the end of 2034. This accelerates his previous plan for his three children to oversee the distribution of his fortune within a decade of his passing. The £4.7 billion in donations this year is comparable to last year's total, with the increase in funding for his family's foundations appearing to compensate for the omission of the Gates Foundation.
Bill Gates has consistently denied any knowledge or involvement in Epstein's criminal activities, stating that his meetings with Epstein were solely in the context of exploring potential fundraising opportunities for charitable causes. Mr. Gates has not faced any accusations of wrongdoing. The disclosures regarding Gates' interactions with Epstein emerged in the autumn of 2025.
The decision signifies a notable shift in the philanthropic landscape and the relationship between Mr. Buffett and Mr. Gates, who were once close friends and collaborators. Mr. Gates previously served on the board of Buffett's conglomerate, Berkshire Hathaway, while Buffett sat on the board of the Gates Foundation. This change in giving strategy will likely prompt a re-evaluation of funding sources for some of the Gates Foundation's initiatives.