Warren Buffett sat stunned, poring over the newly unsealed Jeffrey Epstein files, as shocking revelations about his longtime friend Bill Gates hit him like a thunderbolt.
In a remarkably candid interview, the 95-year-old Oracle of Omaha revealed he has deliberately distanced himself and gone completely silent: “I haven’t spoken to him at all since the whole thing was unveiled.” His reason is crystal clear and ruthlessly pragmatic—he doesn’t want to know too much.
“I don’t want to be in a position where I know things,” Buffett explained. “I could get called as a witness. I don’t want to be under oath.”
After pouring more than $43 billion into the Gates Foundation and sharing years of close collaboration and “great times,” the legendary investor has chosen radio silence until the Epstein scandal fully clears. One of the most celebrated friendships in business now hangs in icy limbo.
What exactly stunned Buffett so deeply that even he felt compelled to step back so sharply?
Warren Buffett sat stunned, poring over the newly unsealed Jeffrey Epstein files, as shocking revelations about his longtime friend Bill Gates hit him like a thunderbolt.
In a remarkably candid interview with CNBC’s Becky Quick on Squawk Box, the 95-year-old Oracle of Omaha revealed he has deliberately distanced himself and gone completely silent: “I haven’t spoken to him at all since the whole thing was unveiled.” His reason is crystal clear and ruthlessly pragmatic—he doesn’t want to know too much.
“I don’t want to be in a position where I know things,” Buffett explained. “I could get called as a witness. I don’t want to be under oath.”
After pouring more than $43 billion into the Gates Foundation and sharing years of close collaboration and “great times,” the legendary investor has chosen radio silence until the Epstein scandal fully clears. One of the most celebrated friendships in business now hangs in icy limbo.
What exactly stunned Buffett so deeply that even he felt compelled to step back so sharply?
The latest tranche of Epstein documents, released by the U.S. Department of Justice earlier this year, included emails and notes detailing Gates’ repeated interactions with Epstein—some occurring years after the financier’s 2008 sex-crimes conviction. Among the most damaging were Epstein’s own draft emails and notes alleging that Gates engaged in sexual encounters with “Russian girls,” contracted a sexually transmitted infection as a result, and sought medication to treat it. One particularly graphic claim suggested Epstein helped facilitate “illicit trysts with married women” and even assisted in concealing the STI from Gates’ then-wife, Melinda French Gates. Gates has vehemently denied these allegations, calling them “absolutely absurd and completely false,” and has described his overall association with Epstein as a “huge mistake” limited to misguided philanthropic discussions.
Buffett, whose eyesight required the files to be read aloud to him, described Epstein as a “sensational con man” of historic proportions. He expressed astonishment at how effectively Epstein identified and preyed upon the weaknesses of powerful men—whether sex, power, money, or ambition—while emphasizing that such vulnerabilities do not excuse those who fell into the trap. Buffett voiced relief that Gates never introduced him to Epstein and that their paths never crossed, saying he was “so happy the guy didn’t stop in Omaha.”
Despite the fracture, Buffett does not regret his massive past donations to the Gates Foundation. He stressed that the organization’s work in global health and poverty reduction remains impactful, noting, “It isn’t like they’re stealing money for themselves.” However, he has stopped short of confirming the next major tranche of Berkshire Hathaway stock donations, typically announced in June, preferring instead to “wait and see what unfolds.”
Buffett’s calculated withdrawal reflects the same disciplined risk management that made him one of history’s greatest investors. In a scandal with potential congressional testimony and ongoing legal scrutiny, the Oracle of Omaha has chosen self-preservation over continued closeness. He still speaks fondly of their shared history but believes meaningful conversation should wait until the matter is resolved.
This pause in one of philanthropy’s most iconic partnerships underscores a harsh reality: even the most trusted alliances can fracture when confronted with uncomfortable truths and the long shadow of Jeffrey Epstein’s web. For now, silence reigns—pragmatic, measured, and telling.
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