Buffett stops annual donations to Gates Foundation amid Epstein ties
Warren Buffett has excluded the Gates Foundation from his annual stock donations for the first time in 20 years. This decision follows comments regarding Bill Gates' relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. (sources: ft, cnbc, theguardian, bbc, cnn)
Warren Buffett has omitted the Gates Foundation from his annual charitable stock gifts, marking a significant change in his donation pattern. Buffett described Gates' actions related to Epstein as 'distasteful.'
- Buffett has donated to the Gates Foundation for the past 20 years.
- Buffett's comments on Gates' relationship with Epstein were critical.
- This decision reflects a shift in Buffett's charitable giving strategy.
Why it matters
The change in Buffett's donations may impact the funding and operations of the Gates Foundation.
↓ Congress can act on this
6 bills on this issue are moving right now — and the most active one is S.539: PROTECT Our Children Reauthorization Act of 2025.
S.539 · 119th Congress
PROTECT Our Children Reauthorization Act of 2025
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What S.539 actually does
This story is about Buffett describes Gates's relationship with Epstein as 'distasteful'. This bill would reauthorize the National Strategy for Child Exploitation Prevention and Interdiction and the ICAC task-force program.
If passed, it would:
- reauthorize the National Strategy for Child Exploitation Prevention and Interdiction and the ICAC task-force program • require the strategy to cover trends, DOJ efforts, interagency coordination, and legislative recommendations.
5 other bills moving on this issue
Take action on any of them individually.
This story is about Buffett describes Gates's relationship with Epstein as 'distasteful'. This bill would add HSI forensics analysts and child-exploitation investigators, and create a victim-identification training program.
If passed, it would
- add HSI forensics analysts and child-exploitation investigators, and create a victim-identification training program • require privacy protections for information about victims of child sexual exploitation or abuse.
This story is about Buffett describes Gates's relationship with Epstein as 'distasteful'. This bill would direct the Labor Secretary to train certain DOL employees to detect human trafficking and help law enforcement prevent it.
If passed, it would
- direct the Labor Secretary to train certain DOL employees to detect human trafficking and help law enforcement prevent • create a more formal federal referral path from frontline labor oversight to trafficking enforcement.
This story is about Buffett describes Gates's relationship with Epstein as 'distasteful'. This bill would require a $5,000 additional assessment on covered non-indigent convicted persons or entities under 18 U.S.C. 3014.
If passed, it would
- require a $5,000 additional assessment on covered non-indigent convicted persons or entities under 18 U.S.C. 3014 • preserve a federal victim-justice financing mechanism rather than letting it expire.
This story is about Buffett describes Gates's relationship with Epstein as 'distasteful'. This bill would broaden federal kidnapping and minor-sex-abuse provisions, including cases involving deception.
If passed, it would
- broaden federal kidnapping and minor-sex-abuse provisions, including cases involving deception • add a new offense for certain intentional genital touching involving minors under 16 in federal or custodial settings.
This story is about Buffett describes Gates's relationship with Epstein as 'distasteful'. This bill would let victims sue the government when it enters a plea bargain or deferred prosecution agreement without timely notice.
If passed, it would
- let victims sue the government when it enters a plea bargain or deferred prosecution agreement without timely notice • extend the victim-notice language to nonprosecution agreements as well.
Sources used · 5 sources