Warren Buffett Accelerates Charitable Giving, Excludes Gates Foundation Amid Epstein Probe

The 95‑year‑old Berkshire Hathaway chairman announced an accelerated plan to give away all of his remaining Berkshire stock by the end of 2034, roughly eight years instead of the originally intended ten‑year post‑mortem period. He will transfer about $6 billion worth of shares – 12 million Class B shares – to four family‑run foundations: the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation (9 million shares), and one million shares each to the Sherwood, Howard G. Buffett and NoVo foundations.

For the first time in two decades, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation was omitted from his annual mid‑year donation. Buffett said the decision follows a review of the Gates Foundation’s ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his own lack of recent contact with Bill Gates. He stated, “Of course, mortality is unpredictable, but my remaining shares will be donated to the four foundations one way or another by December 31 2034.”

Buffett’s previous contributions to the Gates Foundation totaled roughly $47 billion over two decades. The accelerated giving aims to simplify estate settlement for his heirs, while the Gates Foundation awaits the outcome of its internal audit before any future donations resume.