OMAHA — Warren Buffett has paused his annual donation to the Gates Foundation. He is delaying the decision until later in the year, potentially aligning with the release of his annual Thanksgiving letter.

Buffett is awaiting the findings of a review commissioned by the Gates Foundation concerning its ties to Jeffrey Epstein. The foundation retained the law firm WilmerHale to conduct this review, with findings expected in summer 2026.

People familiar with Buffett's plans indicated that he and those close to him have communicated with foundation leadership, including CEO Mark Suzman, regarding Epstein's connections to the organization. Buffett told CNBC in March 2026 that he had not spoken with Bill Gates since the release of the Epstein files. He stated, "I don't want to be under oath," and "I don't want to be in a position where I know things ... to be called as a witness."

Bill Gates testified before the House Oversight Committee in June 2026, stating that he met Jeffrey Epstein in 2011. Gates described the meeting as a "grave error in judgment and put this work at risk." He further commented, "His behavior was antithetical to all my efforts to contribute to a world where everyone has a chance to live a healthy and productive life." Gates denied witnessing criminal conduct by Epstein or participating in such behavior, and he stated that he only learned Epstein was a registered sex offender in 2018.

Bill Gates did not attend Berkshire Hathaway's annual meeting in May 2026. He previously served on the Berkshire Hathaway board until 2020. Melinda French Gates resigned as co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2024. In a February 2026 interview with NPR, Melinda French Gates indicated that Bill Gates and others mentioned in the Epstein files "have to answer for what's described in them—not me."

Documents released in late January 2026 contained notes from Jeffrey Epstein suggesting Bill Gates engaged in extramarital affairs. Representatives for Bill Gates denied these claims, calling them "absolutely absurd and completely false." A Gates spokesperson stated that Bill Gates regrets meeting Epstein but never witnessed or engaged in any illegal behavior.

Buffett has pledged to donate to the Gates Foundation for his lifetime and has historically contributed billions in Berkshire Hathaway shares to the foundation each summer. Between 2006 and 2025, Buffett has donated more than $47 billion to the Gates Foundation. The Gates Foundation plans to spend down its endowment and close at the end of 2045, and it has informed employees that hundreds of positions will be cut in the coming years.