Warren Buffett says he has no regrets about donating billions of dollars to the Gates Foundation despite revelations about his close ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, but he no longer talks to close friend Gates. Buffett, who has donated tens of billions of dollars worth of stock to the Gates Foundation, told CNBC on Tuesday: "I wish certain things had never happened." But when it came to the foundation's work, he said: "They are not taking money for themselves."
Buffett in 2023 file photo. The retired Berkshire Hathaway CEO said he does not regret donating to the Gates Foundation.
Buffett's donations totaled $36 billion as of 2022, and he has continued to give every year since, according to the foundation. However, he has yet to decide what will happen with the next donation, scheduled for June this year.
The more than 3 million pages of Epstein-related documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice include a large number of emails between Gates and Epstein, showing that the two coordinated meetings and discussed Gates' charity work. The document also contains content written by Epstein himself suggesting sexual misconduct by Gates.
Gates has reportedly apologized to foundation employees for his association with Epstein, calling the relationship "a huge mistake" but firmly denying accusations of personal misconduct as "untrue."
All of Gates' dealings with Epstein documented in the documents occurred after Epstein was convicted on prostitution-related charges in 2008.
Buffett said he had never met Epstein and had no dealings with him. He also said he had not spoken to Gates, a longtime close friend, about the scandal.
"We've spent a lot of good time together," he said, "but I don't think there's any point in talking too much until things are cleared up."
One reason, he said, was not wanting to be called to testify about Epstein's relationship with Gates.
"I don't want to testify under oath," he said.