Warren Buffett ends a 20-year tradition, diverting a $6 billion annual donation from the Gates Foundation to his own family’s charities.
A massive shift has shaken the world of global philanthropy as one of its most famous financial partnerships comes to an abrupt halt. On Tuesday, July 14, 2026, billionaire investor Warren Buffett announced that he has excluded the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation from his annual multi-billion-dollar summer donation. Breaking a two-decade-old tradition, the 95-year-old Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway decided to redirect his entire $6 billion yearly contribution of company stock to four private charitable foundations run by his own children.
This sudden decision marks a dramatic departure from Buffett’s famous 2006 pledge. At the time, he “irrevocably” committed the vast majority of his historic wealth to the Gates Foundation during his lifetime to fight global poverty and disease. Over the last 20 years, his contributions to the foundation totaled a staggering $47 billion, forming the backbone of major global health initiatives. This year, however, the Gates Foundation was left completely empty-handed.
The reason behind this sudden split centers on growing public concern and legal reviews over Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates’ historical ties to the late, convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In February 2026, the US Department of Justice released files showing photographs and emails connecting Gates and his foundation’s staff to Epstein. In response, the Gates Foundation hired outside lawyers to conduct an independent review of these past interactions. According to recent reports, it is withholding any future funding until this independent investigation is complete and the facts are fully clarified.
The personal friendship between the two billionaires has also chilled significantly. In a recent interview, Buffett admitted that he has not spoken to Gates “at all since the whole thing was unveiled”. While Gates has repeatedly apologized for his association with Epstein, maintained he had no knowledge of his crimes, and has not been accused of any wrongdoing, the reputational fallout was enough for Buffett to pull back.
See Also: Regional Tech Powerhouse 9Yards X Acquires Labib AI to Dominate Arabic Sovereign AI Market
Instead of the Gates Foundation, Buffett converted 8,000 of his high-value Berkshire Class A shares into 12 million Class B shares to distribute among his family. He donated 9 million shares to the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation, which focuses heavily on reproductive health. The remaining 3 million shares were split equally among the Sherwood Foundation, the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, and the NoVo Foundation.
Looking ahead, Buffett clarified his ultimate succession plan in a public statement. He announced a strict deadline of December 31, 2034, by which his children must fully distribute his remaining Berkshire stock, currently worth nearly $146 billion, to these family-linked charities. The Gates Foundation remains in a strong financial position with its own $200 billion endowment. However, the loss of its most generous supporter signals the end of an era for the world’s most powerful charitable alliance.
