July 18, 2026

Warren Buffett Reflects on Bill Gates' Epstein Ties, Says 'I've Made Mistakes' Choosing People

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Legendary investor Warren Buffett said he has made mistakes hiring people and choosing friends as he reflected on Bill Gates‘ past association with Jeffrey Epstein, while confirming the Gates Foundation will no longer receive his charitable donations.

‘I’ve Made Mistakes’ Choosing People

Speaking to CNBC’s Becky Quick, the former CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. said he had reviewed congressional testimony and cross-examination related to Gates’ association with Epstein and found nothing beyond mistakes in judgment.

“I’ve made mistakes hiring all kinds of people or choosing friends, and then finding out later that, one way or another, they weren’t what I thought they were,” Buffett said in the interview.

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While calling Gates’ association with Epstein “distasteful,” Buffett said “life goes on” and added that “no one bats a thousand in the business of choosing people.”

Why Buffett Is Ending Donations To The Gates Foundation

Buffett said the Gates Foundation will no longer receive future donations from him, ending a philanthropic partnership that has seen him contribute about $47 billion to the organization over the past two decades.

He said the decision was part of a broader reassessment of his estate plans rather than a reflection on the foundation’s work, as his three children are now prepared to oversee the distribution of his remaining fortune.

Friendship That Continues

Despite the change in his philanthropic plans, Buffett said his relationship with Gates remains strong.

He revealed the two met in Omaha just weeks ago and spent about three hours together, adding that Gates has already proposed another meeting.

Buffett, who turns 96 next month, described Gates as a longtime friend and said the pair have shared “an enormous number of good times” since first meeting in 1991, calling it “a wonderful friendship.”

Since stepping down as CEO of Berkshire, Buffett has remained active as Executive Chairman, providing investment ideas for the conglomerate and new CEO Greg Abel.

Photo courtesy: mark reinstein / Shutterstock.com

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Warren Buffett Reflects on Bill Gates&#039; Epstein Ties, Says &#039;I&#039;ve Made Mistakes&#039; Choosing People