Warren Buffett has revealed he no longer speaks with longtime friend Bill Gates, following the explosive release of documents tied to Jeffrey Epstein.
In a candid CNBC interview, the legendary investor said he has cut off contact with the Microsoft co-founder since Gates’ past association with Epstein came back into the spotlight.
“I haven’t talked to him at all since the whole thing was unveiled,” Buffett admitted, adding that he doesn’t want to be dragged into legal proceedings. “I’d rather not be under oath.”
Buffett, who has shared decades of friendship and philanthropy with Gates, spoke warmly about their bond but stressed that “until things are resolved, it’s not wise to say much.”
He didn’t mince words about Epstein, calling him “the con man of all time” who exploited the weaknesses of powerful men. Buffett noted that Gates once considered inviting him to meet Epstein in New York but never did. “I got him to thank for not doing that,” Buffett said.
The resurfaced files have reignited scrutiny over Gates’ meetings with Epstein after his 2008 conviction. Gates has previously admitted those encounters were a mistake, insisting they were linked to philanthropy.
His spokesperson recently blasted new claims in the files as “absurd and completely false,” accusing Epstein of trying to entrap Gates.
Buffett and Gates first connected in the early 1990s, and they eventually built one of the most influential partnerships in business and philanthropy. Buffett donated tens of billions to the Gates Foundation, and the two often appeared together promoting the Giving Pledge.
Their friendship extended beyond boardrooms, with countless bridge games and shared public commitments to giving away their fortunes.
Now, that once-close alliance appears to be on pause—caught in the fallout of Epstein’s toxic legacy.
