On July 14th, Berkshire Hathaway Chairman and renowned investor Warren Buffett unveiled his latest plan for donating shares. A notable aspect of this announcement is that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, established by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, has been excluded from the list of recipients for these multi-billion dollar contributions. This move formally ends Buffett's financial support for the foundation, a commitment that spanned two decades, with his future philanthropic assets now being directed entirely to four foundations operated by members of the Buffett family.

A Major Shift in Giving: A 20-Year Partnership Concludes

The 95-year-old Buffett had pledged in 2006 to make "irrevocable" annual gifts of his Berkshire Hathaway stock to the Gates Foundation, a commitment intended to last for his lifetime. Over the past 20 years, Buffett has contributed a cumulative total of approximately $47 billion to the foundation.

However, in the updated donation plan released on Tuesday, the Gates Foundation received no allocation of shares. Buffett stated in a declaration that he intends to distribute all his remaining shares over the next eight years, by December 31, 2034, with these assets being entirely channeled to the four family foundations.

In response to this significant change, the Gates Foundation issued a statement to the media expressing gratitude for Buffett's support over the past several decades. The foundation emphasized its current strong financial position, noting that with the support of Bill Gates's personal pledge of $20 billion, it is ensured that its operations will continue smoothly through 2045.

Public Scrutiny on 'Epstein Case': Avoiding Association Seen as Primary Reason for Split

Although Buffett's written statement did not directly mention Bill Gates or the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, widespread speculation suggests this "cutting of ties" is closely linked to Gates's recent entanglement in the Epstein scandal.

In January of this year, historical documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice detailed the nature of Gates's interactions with Epstein. In June, Gates testified before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, where he was questioned about his relationship with Epstein. Hearing transcripts show Gates acknowledged meeting Epstein in 2011, stating his initial intent was to seek Epstein's assistance in fundraising for global health initiatives. Gates admitted that while he was aware Epstein had faced legal issues at the time, he failed to fully grasp the severity of his crimes, stating he "shouldn't have met with him."

Previously, Buffett indicated in an interview that he has "not talked to Gates" since the related documents and facts were disclosed. Buffett stressed that he "didn't want to be in a position of knowing things" and did not wish to be called as a witness in future litigation.

Philanthropic Landscape Transformed: A Golden Alliance Dissolves

Buffett and Gates were once the most prominent allies in global philanthropy. In 2010, they jointly launched The Giving Pledge initiative, calling on the world's wealthiest individuals to commit the majority of their wealth to philanthropy during their lifetime or through their will. However, the leadership structure of the Gates Foundation has undergone significant changes in recent years. In 2021, Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates announced their divorce. In 2024, Melinda formally resigned from her position as co-chair of the foundation and announced an independent $1 billion commitment to support women's rights causes.

Analysts point out that with Melinda's departure and Buffett's complete severance of the funding pipeline, the world's largest private philanthropic foundation will have to bid farewell to the era of support from its "triumvirate" and fully enter a new phase dominated by Gates's personal capital.