Jeffrey Epstein Ties Strain Bill Gates and Warren Buffett Relationship

Warren Buffett has ceased all communication with Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates following the release of government documents detailing Gates’ association with the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. In an interview with CNBC published March 31, 2026, the Berkshire Hathaway chairman stated that there has been radio silence between the two longtime friends since the details of the relationship became clearer.

Buffett indicated that his decision to stop speaking with Gates is rooted in a desire to avoid legal complications. He stated that he does not wish to be in a position where he possesses information that could lead to him being called as a witness in legal proceedings related to the Epstein files.

Philanthropic Ties and the Gates Foundation

The rift comes despite a massive financial relationship between Buffett and the philanthropic organization founded by Gates and his former wife, Melinda French Gates. Since 2006, Buffett has donated more than $43 billion to the Gates Foundation.

While the revelations regarding Epstein have strained the personal friendship between the two billionaires, Buffett has stated that he does not regret his multi-billion-dollar contributions to the foundation.

Details of the Epstein Files

The tension follows the release of millions of pages of documents by the government and Congress since late 2025. These files have brought renewed scrutiny to Gates’ relationship with Epstein, which began in 2011, three years after Epstein pleaded guilty in a Florida state court to soliciting an underage girl for prostitution.

The released documents include several specific allegations regarding Gates’ conduct and his use of Epstein as a professional intermediary. These include:

• Claims that Gates had an affair with Russian bridge player Mila Antonova during his marriage to Melinda French Gates.
• Allegations that Gates permitted Epstein to act as a fixer to negotiate the departure of Boris Nikolic, the chief science advisor for the Gates Foundation and Gates’ investment firm, BgC3. Nikolic reportedly received a $5 million exit package.
• Reports that Epstein played a role in negotiating the exit of Microsoft Windows president Steven Sinofsky. Sinofsky received $14 million from Microsoft, and Epstein allegedly received a $1 million fee for his role in the negotiation.

Response from Bill Gates

In February 2026, Bill Gates issued an apology to the staff of the Gates Foundation regarding his association with Jeffrey Epstein. During this event, Gates admitted to having affairs with two Russian women, a fact that Epstein had learned of.

I did nothing illicit. I saw nothing illicit.

Bill Gates

Gates has denied claims appearing in Epstein-related emails suggesting that he contracted a sexually transmitted infection from Russian girls, describing those specific claims as completely false.

Buffett’s Assessment of Jeffrey Epstein

Buffett, who has lived in Omaha for more than 65 years, stated that he never met Jeffrey Epstein and did not run in the same social circles as the financier. He noted that while he might have encountered Epstein if he lived in New York and attended parties there, he remained removed from Epstein’s environment.

Buffett offered a sharp critique of Epstein’s character, describing him as a con man and a master manipulator who targeted the weaknesses of powerful men. He expressed astonishment that someone could be so successful as a con person.

Buffett concluded that he does not intend to say more on the matter until the situation is resolved.