The rise and fall of the 30-year friendship between Bill Gates and Warren Buffett

Katie Balevic,Shana Lebowitz,Debanjali Bose,Grace Kay,Sarah JacksonAug 25, 2024, 01:24 IST

Warren Buffett and Bill Gates at a Berkshire Hathaway annual shareholders meeting. Rick Wilking/Reuters

Bill Gates and Warren Buffett have been friends for over 30 years.
After hitting it off in their first meeting, they worked together on philanthropy for decades.

Warren Buffett and Bill Gates, who both rank high among the richest men in the world, have been friends for decades. It began in the 1990s and led to joint ventures and world-changing philanthropy.

But in recent years, both their business and personal relationships have cooled.

Here's what happened.

A decades-long friendship.

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty

Gates didn't want to take the day off work.

A young BIll Gates in the early years of Microsoft.Doug Wilson/CORBIS

Buffett made similar comments at the time.

Buffett at a press conference. Mark Cardwell/Reuters

But the pair hit it off immediately.

Buffett joined Gates at a CEO summit at Microsoft headquarters. Jeff Christensen/Reuters

Friendship and mentorship alike.

Buffett and Gates attend a finance conference.AP Photo/Paul Sakuma

But Gates didn't have the same concern.

Buffett and Gates at a Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting.Thomson Reuters

Both say they have a laser focus.

Both men have said they focus on prioritizing tasks and knowing the value of their time.Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Joining together on causes.

Warren Buffett, Melinda Gates, and Bill Gates, are seen during an interview in May 2015.Lacy O'Toole/CNBC/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images

Buffett contributed billions to Gates' foundation.

Buffett has given billions to the Gates Foundation.Nati Harnik/AP

They've advocated for policy change, too.

Gates and Buffett on Fox Business Network. Nati Harnik/AP

During the pandemic, they spoke often.

Gates and Buffett once had fun trying out new mattresses. The Gates Notes, LLC

But things have evolved amid Gates's life changes.

Gates attends the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

After that, things changed even more.

Gates and French Gates delivered the commencement speech at Stanford University graduates in 2014.Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Buffett said his gifts to the foundation won't continue after he dies.

Buffett and his children have indicated that their generosity toward the Gates Foundation is limited.Scott Morgan/Reuters

Gates has stopped posting as much about Buffett.

The two men seem to have drifted apart in recent years, reports say.Bennett Raglin/Getty Images

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