Warren Buffett removes Gates Foundation from charity list amid Epstein Files controversy

Warren Buffett has removed the Gates Foundation from its annual charitable stock donations, CNBC reports. The omission followed a Wall Street Journal report that Buffett had paused his usual donations to the Gates Foundation pending a review of his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Since 2006, the Berkshire Hathaway chairman has donated more than $43 billion worth of Berkshire stock to the charity founded by Bill Gates and his ex-wife, Melinda French Gates.

With the Gates Foundation removed from the list, this year’s donations will go to four foundations affiliated with the family.

According to the report, Buffett will donate 9 million Berkshire Hathaway Class B shares to the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation, while the Sherwood Foundation, Howard G. Buffett Foundation and NoVo Foundation will receive 1 million shares each.

“My goal is to divest all of my Berkshire holdings within approximately eight years,” Buffett said in a statement announcing the gifts. “As I announced last year, my children are unfortunately growing up. I hope that all three of them will be able to sell my shares by December 31, 2034.”

We shared great times together: Friendship buffet with Bill Gates

In an interview with CNBC earlier this year, Buffett revealed that he had not spoken to Bill Gates “since everything came out.”

Asked if the two remain close friends, Buffett said they shared “great times together” but added: “Until that situation becomes clear… I don’t think it makes sense to talk too much.”

This year, a series of documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice reignited scrutiny of Gates’ ties to Epstein. The tech billionaire appeared at a congressional hearing this month and said his meetings with the late financier and sex offender were a “serious lapse in judgment.”

Following the growing attention, the Gates Foundation has ordered a review of its past interactions with Epstein and plans to review policies to review new philanthropic partnerships. Buffett contacted the foundation’s leaders to learn more about those ties and the review, sources told the Journal.