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Gates Foundation

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Buffett pivots philanthropy, pausing Gates donations and fast-tracking a 2034 payout
business1 month ago

Buffett pivots philanthropy, pausing Gates donations and fast-tracking a 2034 payout

In a CNBC interview, Warren Buffett announced he will pause further donations to the Gates Foundation and redirect more money to the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation and his three children’s foundations, with Berkshire Hathaway shares slated to be fully disbursed to charity by the end of 2034; he explained the shift is about his children’s readiness, succession planning with Greg Abel, and a revised philanthropy timeline, while also discussing his Alphabet investment and reinforcing his long-running focus on durable, high-ROIC businesses like Apple and his broader Giving Pledge philosophy.

Buffett redirects Berkshire windfall to family foundations, signaling end of Gates donations
business1 month ago

Buffett redirects Berkshire windfall to family foundations, signaling end of Gates donations

Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway will distribute 12 million Class B shares to four family charities—nine million to the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation and three million split among Buffett’s children’s foundations (Sherwood, Howard G. Buffett, Novo)—worth about $5.9 billion, with Buffett aiming to donate all Berkshire shares within roughly eight years. This shifts away from decades of gifts to the Gates Foundation, which has received about $47 billion from Buffett; Gates Foundation says it remains financially strong. The move comes amid a history of tensions between Buffett and Gates, but no legal obligation binds Buffett to his past pledge.

Buffett: Gates-Epstein ties distasteful, but friendship endures amid donation shift
business1 month ago

Buffett: Gates-Epstein ties distasteful, but friendship endures amid donation shift

Warren Buffett described Bill Gates’ relationship with Jeffrey Epstein as 'distasteful' but said he has erred in choosing friends; Berkshire Hathaway halted donations to Gates’ foundation for the first time in 20 years and redirected his remaining stock to Gates’ family foundations after Gates testified to Congress about Epstein. Gates said he introduced Epstein to raise funds for global health and regrets meeting him, while reaffirming his long friendship with Buffett; the Gates Foundation remains financially strong with substantial ongoing giving and impact.

Buffett calls Gates-Epstein link distasteful, says he’s made similar mistakes before
business1 month ago

Buffett calls Gates-Epstein link distasteful, says he’s made similar mistakes before

Warren Buffett described Bill Gates’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein as distasteful but said he could picture himself making similar mistakes in choosing associates. He also revealed he is excluding the Gates Foundation from his annual Berkshire Hathaway share donation, transferring decision-making to his children and a new, family‑linked foundation; the Gates Foundation will continue to operate and plans to give away about $200bn before winding down in 2045. Buffett stressed the move wasn’t solely about Gates’s Epstein links, noting he has reviewed extensive materials (including Gates’s congressional testimony) and that he and Gates remain in contact and plan to meet again.

Buffett reshapes charity after Gates-Epstein concerns
business1 month ago

Buffett reshapes charity after Gates-Epstein concerns

Warren Buffett called Bill Gates’ association with Jeffrey Epstein distasteful but forgivable and announced a major shift in Berkshire Hathaway’s philanthropy, redirecting this year’s donations away from the Gates Foundation to four family-founded foundations, while outlining a plan to transfer Berkshire stock to his children over about eight years; Buffett said he and Gates remain in contact and noted his recent leg surgery.

Buffett Ends Annual Berkshire Donations to Gates Foundation, Redirects Funds to Family Foundations
business1 month ago

Buffett Ends Annual Berkshire Donations to Gates Foundation, Redirects Funds to Family Foundations

Warren Buffett says he will stop his yearly Berkshire Hathaway stock donations to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, directing the remaining shares to four Buffett-family foundations over the next eight years (to be fully distributed by 2034). The move comes weeks after Gates detailed his links to Jeffrey Epstein; Buffett had donated about $47 billion to the Gates Foundation over 20 years, though he did not name Gates in his statement. The Gates Foundation responded that it remains financially strong and continues its work through 2045.

Buffett omits Gates Foundation as Epstein ties surface, redirects billions to family charities
business1 month ago

Buffett omits Gates Foundation as Epstein ties surface, redirects billions to family charities

Buffett skipped the Gates Foundation in his annual giving after disclosures of Bill Gates’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein, redirecting about $6 billion to four family-run foundations and accelerating a plan to donate all remaining Berkshire Hathaway stock by 2034; Gates denies involvement in Epstein’s crimes, Buffett notes their friendship has cooled, and the shift continues Buffett’s long-running philanthropic pattern while he steps further toward complete charitable giving.

Buffett Skips Gates Foundation in Latest Berkshire Stock Donations Amid Epstein Review
business1 month ago

Buffett Skips Gates Foundation in Latest Berkshire Stock Donations Amid Epstein Review

Warren Buffett said he will donate 9 million Berkshire Class B shares to the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation and 1 million shares to each of the Sherwood Foundation, the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, and the Novo Foundation, leaving out the Gates Foundation for the first time as it undergoes a review over ties to Jeffrey Epstein; Buffett aims to dispose of all Berkshire shares by 2034 and will discuss the plan on CNBC.

Gates Foundation launches external probe into Epstein ties
business4 months ago

Gates Foundation launches external probe into Epstein ties

The Gates Foundation has commissioned an external review to examine past engagement with Jeffrey Epstein and its vetting of philanthropic partnerships; staff were informed in March, with results due this summer, as Epstein-related documents show meetings between Gates and Epstein after the 2008 conviction. The foundation also announced planned layoffs of about 500 employees as part of cost-cutting.

Gates Foundation to review Epstein ties while cutting up to 500 jobs
business4 months ago

Gates Foundation to review Epstein ties while cutting up to 500 jobs

The Gates Foundation has launched an external review of its past ties to Jeffrey Epstein and plans to reduce its staff by up to 500 (about 20%) by 2030 to cut costs, aiming to cap operating expenses at $1.25 billion as it runs a roughly $9 billion budget in 2026. Bill Gates is set to testify about Epstein before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on June 10.

Gates Foundation's fossil-fuel bets rebound to $254m in 2024
business7 months ago

Gates Foundation's fossil-fuel bets rebound to $254m in 2024

Guardian analysis shows the Gates Foundation Trust held about $254 million in fossil-fuel extractors in 2024, a nine-year high and up 21% since 2016, signaling a rebound in exposure despite Bill Gates’ 2019 pledge to divest. The trust’s 2024 holdings include Glencore, BP, Occidental Petroleum, Inpex and Equinor, with growth partly driven by stock-price moves and new stakes after earlier rapid divestment; the piece notes the tension between philanthropy and climate commitments as the portfolio remains meaningfully exposed to upstream fossil fuels.

Gates Foundation Concentrates $38B Public Portfolio in Three Value Stocks
business7 months ago

Gates Foundation Concentrates $38B Public Portfolio in Three Value Stocks

The Gates Foundation's roughly $38 billion of publicly traded stocks is heavily concentrated in three names—Berkshire Hathaway (29.1%), Waste Management (16.7%), and Canadian National Railway (13.6%)—making up about 59% of the portfolio. About 21.8 million Berkshire shares, worth around $10.9 billion, come from Buffett's donations, reflecting a Buffett-influenced, value-oriented investment approach focused on durable, cash-generating businesses rather than flashy tech stocks.