Warren Buffett

Warren Buffett is an American businessman, investor, and philanthropist who is widely regarded as one of the most successful and influential investors of all time. He is the co-founder, chairman, and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, a multinational conglomerate that owns and operates various businesses across diverse sectors, such as insurance, energy, transportation, consumer goods, media, and technology. He is also known for his generous philanthropy, having pledged to donate 99 percent of his fortune to various causes, mainly through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Buffett was born on August 30, 1930, in Omaha, Nebraska, as the only son of Leila and Howard Buffett, a businessman and a congressman. He developed an early interest in business and investing, and bought his first shares of stock at the age of 11. He graduated from the University of Nebraska with a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1950, and then earned a master’s degree in economics from Columbia University in 1951, where he studied under the legendary value investor Benjamin Graham. He also attended the New York Institute of Finance to further his education in economics and finance.

After working as a stockbroker and an investment analyst, Buffett founded his own investment partnership in 1956, which he ran until 1969. During this period, he achieved remarkable returns for his investors, averaging 29.5 percent annually, compared to 7.4 percent for the S&P 500 index. He also acquired a controlling stake in Berkshire Hathaway, a struggling textile company, in 1965, and transformed it into his main investment vehicle. He gradually diversified Berkshire’s portfolio by buying stakes in or acquiring outright various companies that he deemed undervalued, well-managed, and profitable. Some of his most notable investments include American Express, Coca-Cola, GEICO, Wells Fargo, Apple, and Amazon.

Buffett is famous for his value investing philosophy, which advocates buying stocks of companies that have strong competitive advantages, consistent earnings, and low debt, and holding them for the long term. He is also known for his frugal lifestyle, his witty and insightful letters to shareholders, and his simple and clear explanations of complex financial concepts. He has been nicknamed the “Oracle of Omaha” for his ability to predict market trends and identify investment opportunities. He is widely respected and admired by investors, business leaders, and the general public alike.

As of January 2024, Buffett had a net worth of $122 billion, making him the tenth-richest person in the world, according to Forbes³. However, he has pledged to give away most of his wealth to charitable causes, mainly through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which focuses on improving global health and education. He also co-founded the Giving Pledge with Bill and Melinda Gates in 2010, a campaign that encourages billionaires to donate at least half of their fortunes to philanthropy. He has donated more than $40 billion to various charities so far, making him one of the most generous philanthropists in history.

Buffett is married to Astrid Menks, whom he wed in 2006, after the death of his first wife, Susan Thompson, in 2004. He has three children, Susan, Howard, and Peter, and several grandchildren. He lives in the same modest house in Omaha that he bought in 1958 for $31,500. He is an avid reader, bridge player, and ukulele player. He is also a fan of the Nebraska Cornhuskers football team and the Omaha World-Herald newspaper, which he owns. He is a Democrat and has supported various political candidates and causes, such as Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, and higher taxes for the wealthy. He is also a vocal critic of Wall Street excesses, corporate greed, and income inequality. He is regarded as a role model and a mentor by many aspiring investors and entrepreneurs around the world..