Buffett omits gift to Bill Gates’ foundation after his Epstein ties disclosed

Key Points:

• Warren Buffett has excluded Bill Gates' foundation from his 2024 charitable donations amid revelations of Gates' connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, redirecting about $6 billion to four family-run foundations instead.
• Buffett plans to donate his remaining Berkshire Hathaway stock, valued at over $140 billion, to charity by the end of 2034, accelerating a previous plan that involved his children distributing his fortune after his death.
• Despite Gates denying any wrongdoing and claiming his meetings with Epstein were solely for philanthropic fundraising, Buffett has distanced himself, stating he wants to avoid involvement in anything that could be subject to investigation.
• Buffett and Gates, once close friends and collaborators, have not communicated since before the Epstein disclosures emerged, marking a significant cooling in their relationship.
• The Gates Foundation is conducting an internal review of its past interactions with Epstein and has hired an external party to assess and improve its vetting policies for future partnerships.