Buffett commits to giving away all remaining Berkshire shares worth over $140 billion

Author: Danielle Liverance Source: 24/7 Wall St. Reading Time: 6 minutes

Quick Read

• Warren Buffett transferred $6 billion in Berkshire Hathaway Class B stock (BRK-B) directly to four family foundations, excluding the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for the first time in 20 years.
• Buffett cited Bill Gates' disclosed ties to Jeffrey Epstein as the reason for ending nearly $48 billion in donations spanning two decades.
• Buffett's total philanthropic commitment of $200 billion is the largest in American history, with $60 billion already given and $140 billion still pledged.

The $140 Billion Plan

Warren Buffett just made the largest trade of his life — and it has nothing to do with the stock market.

On Tuesday, July 14, 2026, the 95-year-old Berkshire Hathaway chairman committed to giving away every remaining share he owns, currently worth more than $140 billion, to four family foundations by December 31, 2034. He backed up that pledge by donating roughly $6 billion in Berkshire Class B stock (NYSE: BRK-B) the same day.

For the first time since 2006, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation — which received nearly $48 billion from Buffett over two decades — received nothing.

"My goal is to dispose of all of my Berkshire shares within about eight years," Buffett said. "Of course, mortality is unpredictable, but my remaining shares will be donated to the four foundations one way or the other by December 31, 2034."

The new plan sets a hard date regardless of when he dies, replacing the previous arrangement that left his three children to distribute his fortune within 10 years of his death.

Key Details

• Buffett currently holds 188,290 Class A shares and 1,162 Class B shares, worth roughly $140–150 billion.
• Clearing that by 2034 implies at least $17 billion in donations per year — more than double the roughly $7 billion he gave in 2025.
• He has pledged 99.5% of his estate to philanthropy.
• "My will provides that about 99.5% of my estate is destined for philanthropic usage. Nothing will go to endowments; I want the money spent on current needs."

Tuesday's $6 Billion Donation and Where It Went

The immediate donation totaled 12 million Class B shares, approximately $5.9–6 billion, split four ways:

| Foundation | Shares Received | Approximate Value | |---|---|---| | Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation | 9 million | $4.4–4.5 billion | | Sherwood Foundation | 1 million | $496–500 million | | Howard G. Buffett Foundation | 1 million | $496–500 million | | NoVo Foundation | 1 million | $496–500 million |

All shares were converted from Class A stock. Buffett retains his remaining Class A shares, which carry nearly all of Berkshire's voting power, preserving effective control even as his economic stake diminishes.

Who Got Left Out

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation was excluded from this round of donations — and from Buffett's future giving plan — for the first time in two decades. Buffett cited Bill Gates' disclosed ties to Jeffrey Epstein as the reason for ending the nearly $48 billion in donations that had been made over 20 years.

This article originally appeared on 24/7 Wall St.