Buffett Calls Gates' Epstein Ties 'Distasteful' and Drops His Foundation from Donations for First Time in 20 Years

Legendary investor Warren Buffett offered a rare public comment on his long-time partner Bill Gates, describing Gates' contacts with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein as 'distasteful.' At the same time, Buffett stopped short of harsh condemnation, noting that people make mistakes. The more concrete signal came from Buffett's own actions: for the first time in a 20-year history of annual charitable gifts, the Gates Foundation did not receive Berkshire Hathaway shares. Many interpreted this gesture as an unambiguous expression of disapproval. For the investment community, the situation is also notable because the Gates Foundation is a major institutional investor. The apparent rift between two of the most influential figures in finance and philanthropy has not gone unnoticed in business circles.