Buffett Redirects Annual Berkshire Donations to Family Foundations, Omitting Gates Foundation Amid Inquiry

Warren Buffett discussed his charitable giving during a CNBC interview at the Berkshire Hathaway Annual Shareholders Meeting in Omaha, NE, on May 2, 2026.

The 95-year-old chairman announced plans to donate 9 million Class B shares of Berkshire Hathaway to the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation, along with 1 million shares each to the Sherwood Foundation, the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, and the Novo Foundation.

“My objective is to liquidate my entire Berkshire stake within approximately eight years,” Buffett stated. “As I noted previously, my children are aging, and I am confident they will oversee the distribution of my shares by December 31, 2034.”

For the first time since 2006, the Gates Foundation was not listed as a recipient of Buffett’s annual donations. Over two decades, he had contributed over $47 billion in Berkshire stock to the foundation co-founded by Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates. The exclusion follows a Wall Street Journal report that Buffett paused donations pending a review of the foundation’s historical connections to Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender.

In a March interview with CNBC’s Becky Quick, Buffett acknowledged he had not communicated with Gates since the Epstein controversy emerged. When asked about their relationship, he reflected, “We’ve had wonderful moments, but until this matter is resolved, meaningful dialogue doesn’t feel appropriate.”

This decision diverges from Buffett’s 2006 commitment to annually donate shares to the Gates Foundation, contingent on at least one founder remaining actively involved. His evolving strategy underscores a shift toward family-led charitable efforts while addressing ongoing scrutiny of the Gates Foundation.

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