Warren Buffett has confirmed he has not spoken to long-time friend Bill Gates since the release of the Epstein files. The story gained traction when reported by UNILAD, which detailed Buffett’s comments in a recent interview explaining his decision to distance himself from the Microsoft co-founder.
Buffett was direct about his reasoning. He said he does not want to be in a position where he knows things that could result in him being called as a witness, stating plainly, “I don’t want to be under oath.” Until Gates’ affiliation with Epstein is completely “cleared up,” Buffett said it doesn’t “make sense to do a lot of talking.”
The two men have been close friends for more than 30 years, collaborating on various philanthropic initiatives. Buffett, who has pledged to give away 99 percent of his wealth, has donated more than $43 billion to the Gates Foundation since 2006. The foundation was established by Bill Gates and his ex-wife Melinda in 2000.
The witness stand comment is really what changes the tone here
The Epstein files, released by the Department of Justice in January, contained a draft email written by the late Jeffrey Epstein in 2013 that alleged Gates had contracted STDs from Russian women. The documents also included exchanges between Gates and Epstein concerning philanthropic projects. Gates has called the email “false” and insisted it was “never sent,” openly questioning Epstein’s motives: “Apparently, Jeffrey wrote an email to himself… I don’t know what his thinking was there. Was he trying to attack me in some way?”
Gates has publicly stated he regrets “every minute” spent with the convicted sex offender and confirmed he never visited Epstein’s island. He later apologized to staff for his links to Epstein and acknowledged in a meeting that he had affairs with two Russian women, which Epstein had learned about. Gates maintained that he “never spent any time” with victims, that he “did nothing illicit,” and that he “saw nothing illicit.”
A spokesperson for Gates confirmed that he “welcomes the opportunity to appear before the Committee” after accepting an invitation from the House Oversight Committee to testify about his dealings with Epstein, adding that Gates “is looking forward to answering all the committee’s questions.” Gates first became friends with Epstein in 2011, three years after Epstein had already pleaded guilty in Florida state court to soliciting an underage girl for prostitution.
Buffett also offered a blunt assessment of Epstein himself, calling him a “con man” and saying, “It is astounding to me that anyone could be that successful as a con man.” He elaborated on Epstein’s methods: “Men are going to like sex… and some of them are going to like not paying taxes, and he figured out their weaknesses.” Buffett added, “That guy must have been the con man of all time. He had a way of conning everybody.”
He also expressed gratitude that Gates never introduced him to Epstein in New York. “I got him to thank for not doing that,” Buffett said, while acknowledging that “you can’t get away from what happened either.” The Epstein files have drawn scrutiny across multiple high-profile figures, including in separate true crime proceedings where a ballistic report has complicated a murder case involving Charlie Kirk.
In a letter previously made public, Buffett explained his broader philosophy on wealth, writing that he “never wished to create a dynasty or pursue any plan that extended beyond the children.” He expressed full trust in his own children but harbored doubt about subsequent generations, musing, “Who can foresee the priorities, intelligence and fidelity of successive generations to deal with the distribution of extraordinary wealth?” The Epstein fallout has also extended into entertainment circles, with a Love Is Blind: Argentina star sentenced to 15 years for attempting to kill his co-star fiancee in an unrelated high-profile case drawing renewed public attention to accountability around public figures.
Gates has accepted the House Oversight Committee’s invitation to testify about his dealings with Epstein and says he is prepared to answer all of the committee’s questions.
Published: Apr 1, 2026 09:00 pm