Warren Buffett witholds Bill Gates charity donation over alleged Epstein ties: report

Warren Buffett Delays Annual Donation to Gates Foundation Amid Epstein Review

Warren Buffett has decided to withhold his yearly multibillion-dollar donation to the Gates Foundation this year as the charity conducts an internal review of its past connections to Jeffrey Epstein, the late financier and sex offender.

The 95-year-old chairman of Berkshire Hathaway typically gifts Berkshire shares to the Gates Foundation during the summer. However, he is now waiting for the review to be completed before making his donation, which could be delayed until Thanksgiving, according to sources familiar with the matter.

This pause in Buffett’s annual giving to the Gates Foundation is the first since he started donating Berkshire stock in 2006 as part of his lifelong philanthropic commitment.

The strain in Buffett’s relationship with Bill Gates has become more apparent in recent months, especially with the renewed scrutiny of Gates’ association with Epstein.

The Gates Foundation has enlisted the services of the law firm WilmerHale to conduct an external review of its previous interactions with Epstein, with the results expected later this summer.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding Buffett’s donation to the Gates Foundation, his contributions to his family’s charities are expected to continue as usual.

The Gates Foundation, a major philanthropic organization, has distributed approximately $110 billion since its inception to support various global health initiatives.

Last year, Gates announced plans to spend over $200 billion in the next two decades before eventually phasing out the foundation by 2045.

As part of this transition, the foundation has informed employees that there will be a reduction in staff by up to 500 positions over the next few years while keeping operating expenses in check.

Both Gates and Buffett have not provided comments on the matter at this time.