America’s largest investor, multibillionaire Warren Buffett, is ending his long-standing partnership with the foundation of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates amid heightened congressional scrutiny of the organization co-founder’s ties to American financier Jeffrey Epstein. Bloomberg reported this on July 15.

The chairman of Berkshire Hathaway met with Gates in Omaha, Nebraska, and discussed his decision with him. Buffett noted that he had found nothing in the congressional review beyond what he had already understood and indicated that Gates ultimately cut ties with Epstein.

At the same time, Buffett did not completely distance himself from the Microsoft co-founder, calling the review’s findings unpleasant. He also said he does not plan to resume donations to the Gates Foundation, to which he has contributed more than $47 billion over the past two decades.

Buffett said that the foundation of the Microsoft co-founder had earned more money than expected and that he trusts his children to manage his fortune. The billionaire accelerated the transfer of funds to four charitable organizations connected to his family, giving them Berkshire shares worth about $6 billion.

Going forward, Buffett plans to transfer his entire stake, estimated at about $140 billion, to these organizations over the next eight years. The decision followed the publication by the U.S. Department of Justice of documents that once again drew attention to Gates’s ties to Epstein. The foundation of the Microsoft co-founder commissioned a review of these ties and expects it to be completed in the summer.

Buffett and Gates, however, remain in contact. In a statement to Bloomberg News, Gates noted Buffett’s contribution to the development of the Gates Foundation and their many years of friendship.

The Wall Street Journal also reported on June 30 that the 95-year-old Buffett had refused to cooperate with the Gates Foundation. It was уточнено that the investor had for the first time in 20 years canceled a regular contribution to the Microsoft founder’s charitable foundation because Gates is implicated in the Epstein scandal.

The Epstein files began to be published on December 20, 2025, after U.S. President Donald Trump signed a bill on November 19 of that year authorizing their release. Former U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi published on February 14 a list of more than 300 names of well-known people mentioned in the financier’s case files. It was noted that the text contains the names of the 42nd U.S. president Bill Clinton, the 46th head of state Joe Biden, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, as well as singer Beyoncé.