Warren Buffett Defends the ‘Giving Pledge’ Against Peter Thiel

[Lotsofcoke]

Warren Buffett Defends the ‘Giving Pledge’ Against Peter Thiel

The 94-year-old still has time to defend his belief that the wealthy have an obligation to make society better.

EXPERT OPINION BY JASON ATEN, TECH COLUMNIST @JASONATEN

MAR 22, 2026

 

https://www.inc.com/jason-aten/warren-buffett-defends-the-giving-pledge-against-peter-thiel/91320529

[LC]

You can’t buy class.

 

Hopefully Thiel and his ilk catch a not-so-stray and not-so-proverbial pitchfork. 

[Malmqky]

Thiel and Buffett really are the epitomy of two opposite sides of a spectrum, aren't they?

[Parsad]

In all honesty, I don't think Thiel is completely wrong here either.  I 100% believe that generational wealth is one of the worst sins committed by the rich, but foundational giving is also not always effective.  In many cases, it tends to be massive small donations with very insignificant net results at the end...feed a man a fish.  Now if they make concentrated bets in effective programs/research/etc, then the net result may be more effective.

 

Last year here in Vancouver, 11 people were killed by a mentally unstable driver at the Filipino "Lapu Lapu Day" festival.  Dozens were injured severely as well!  $1.5M was donated to United Way with much of it to go to victims.  So far less than $70K has reached the actual victims.  Over $400K was donated to 40+ different other organizations.  Over $40K was donated just on a dozen "healing circles" within those 40+ organizations...what the eff?!  Healing circles!  Really!  And that's just a miniscule portion of the money that flows through non-profits like United Way and so many more.

 

I'm 100% behind the Giving Pledge...I just hope the way they utilize the funds is far more effective than the traditional methods of non-profit giving.  It's a unique pledge, hopefully the outcomes are unique as well!

 

On another note...the sheer amount of damage Gates has done on a personal/business/philanthropic level now because of his association with Epstein is completely stunning!  One of the greatest collapses of reputation and the repercussions from it...just crazy.  The ripples keep drifting across the lake!  Cheers!  

 

  

[DooDiligence]

It takes a special kind of guy to try and rub stink on altruism.

Edited March 23 by DooDiligence

[bargainman]

I'm curious what alternative Thiel provided to the massive and growing gap between the haves and have nots?  For all this personal faults, Gates' foundation was very focused on measuring impact and was know as the equivalent of 'venture capital for non profit'.  He spoke at length about fighting the 'fairy dust approach' of regular non profits.

 

Plus has anyone shown that Gates did anything illegal in association with Epstein?  It's not like he's the only one the guy bamboozled.  He did have several affairs, but so have many others.  (Probably includes Buffett depending on how you define 'affairs')

[Spooky]

We are so lucky to have had role models of such high integrity to look up to in Buffett and Munger. I am worried for future generations.

[cubsfan]

On 3/22/2026 at 3:04 PM, Parsad said:

In all honesty, I don't think Thiel is completely wrong here either.  I 100% believe that generational wealth is one of the worst sins committed by the rich, but foundational giving is also not always effective.  In many cases, it tends to be massive small donations with very insignificant net results at the end...feed a man a fish.  Now if they make concentrated bets in effective programs/research/etc, then the net result may be more effective.

 

Last year here in Vancouver, 11 people were killed by a mentally unstable driver at the Filipino "Lapu Lapu Day" festival.  Dozens were injured severely as well!  $1.5M was donated to United Way with much of it to go to victims.  So far less than $70K has reached the actual victims.  Over $400K was donated to 40+ different other organizations.  Over $40K was donated just on a dozen "healing circles" within those 40+ organizations...what the eff?!  Healing circles!  Really!  And that's just a miniscule portion of the money that flows through non-profits like United Way and so many more.

 

I'm 100% behind the Giving Pledge...I just hope the way they utilize the funds is far more effective than the traditional methods of non-profit giving.  It's a unique pledge, hopefully the outcomes are unique as well!

 

On another note...the sheer amount of damage Gates has done on a personal/business/philanthropic level now because of his association with Epstein is completely stunning!  One of the greatest collapses of reputation and the repercussions from it...just crazy.  The ripples keep drifting across the lake!  Cheers!  

 

  

 

+1 - excellent comments regarding the problems of giving. Much like Warren's comments on "helpers".

[Blake Hampton]

The dude is mentally ill like Elon.

[Gregmal]

On 3/22/2026 at 8:27 PM, bargainman said:

Plus has anyone shown that Gates did anything illegal in association with Epstein?

Ding, ding ding. 

 

L'est they have "their way" trying to "get Trump" with this Epstein drama. Theres a lot to dislike about Gates, but he was one of the best examples of smart philanthropy. The climate hysteria was over the top, but his organizations had a real impact on causes that otherwise would be ignored. And without judge, jury or trial, just a group of raving lunatics needing some gossip along their way to the next "got Trump", all the "good" he's done and future positives are likely impaired despite not really being guilty of anything; well except for having an affair, which WEB is also guilty of.....

[gfp]

7 minutes ago, Gregmal said:

well except for having an affair, which WEB is also guilty of.....

 Kay Graham?  Doesn't seem like Astrid fits the definition.  It did sound like Susan had an affair but who knows..  its complicated

[Gregmal]

2 minutes ago, gfp said:

 Kay Graham?  Doesn't seem like Astrid fits the definition.  It did sound like Susan had an affair but who knows..  its complicated

And thats the thing, plenty of couples, especially super wealthy and career oriented ones, have "understandings"....Gates was likely a horned up nerd who was unfaithful to his wife, but he's never been charged with a crime so.....

[Pellom]

Thiel is clearly facing stimulant psychosis. His obsession with the anti-christ being a primary example. 

 

 

[73 Reds]

13 hours ago, cubsfan said:

 

+1 - excellent comments regarding the problems of giving. Much like Warren's comments on "helpers".

All charities and non-profits have "administrative expenses".  As a donor, it is important to try and ascertain how much of every donated dollar actually benefits the charitable cause vs. how much winds up lost in administration.   Personally, I think one of the most important changes that should be made to the US tax code (if not repealing it entirely) is to take out many of the deductions that currently exist and replace them with more tax-benefit to all taxpayers for charitable donations.  However, the definition of what qualifies as a 501c organization must also change to require that a substantially large percentage of all donations winds up benefiting the underlying charity or cause.   Ideally, all politics would also be removed from what qualifies as a charity but unfortunately, certain divisive causes still qualify, so it is, and always should be up to each charitable donor what causes they wish to support.  Critics of large donors sometimes argue that billionaire donors often disproportionately influence their pet causes through their large donations.  I find this argument specious - where else would the money come from?  I also find people who criticize giving as opposed to doing shallow-minded; not everyone is cut out to be a "doer".  Likewise the argument that small donations don't matter makes little sense - does less money provide more benefit to help support a cause?  The real issue is how charities are managed and whether the primary benefit inures to the charitable cause as it should, or to the administrators.  More scrutiny should be placed on the latter.

[rogermunibond]

1 hour ago, Pellom said:

Thiel is clearly facing stimulant psychosis. His obsession with the anti-christ being a primary example. 

 

If I were in the anti-Christ prediction business, I would suspect Thiel to be the anti-Christ more than most other billionaires.  It would be a perfect cover.

[John Hjorth]

10 hours ago, Blake Hampton said:

The dude is mentally ill like Elon.

 

Blake [ @Blake Hampton ],

 

Please stop stirring the pot and stop trolling. Nothing postive for CofB&F will come out of it.

[Malmqky]

1 minute ago, John Hjorth said:

 

Blake [ @Blake Hampton ],

 

Please stop stirring the pot and stop trolling. Nothing postive for CofB&F will come out of it.

 

He's right though. Twisted geniuses.

[John Hjorth]

1 minute ago, Malmqky said:

He's right though. Twisted geniuses.

 

The real question, @Malmqky , is :

 

What gives anyone the right - entitlement -  to comment opinionated on anyones rich or filthy rich decision[s] what shall happen with that persons wealth, when that person is not around any longer? Answer : Nothing. All we know is that the last shirt is without pockets. It's that paticular persons decision, because that particular persons net assets are belonging to that person. It's called ownership.

 

The discussion here is to me void, the way it's been going on.

 

And then the topic runs into the dittch with namecalling somebody 'twisted geniuses' and 'mentally ill like Elon'.  There is a lot to do in the Investing Ideas topic other than this!

[Lotsofcoke]

On 3/22/2026 at 9:27 PM, bargainman said:

I'm curious what alternative Thiel provided to the massive and growing gap between the haves and have nots?  For all this personal faults, Gates' foundation was very focused on measuring impact and was know as the equivalent of 'venture capital for non profit'.  He spoke at length about fighting the 'fairy dust approach' of regular non profits.

 

Plus has anyone shown that Gates did anything illegal in association with Epstein?  It's not like he's the only one the guy bamboozled.  He did have several affairs, but so have many others.  (Probably includes Buffett depending on how you define 'affairs')

The man who had to think carefully about how to answer 'should humans survive?' has opinions ...