Warren Buffett
- Birth: 30 Aug 1930
- Death: —
- Age: 95 years
- Net Worth: $148.6B USD
- Income Source: Ownership stake in Berkshire Hathaway, dividends from Berkshire Hathaway, interest on investments, book royalties
Biography
Warren Edward Buffett, born August 30, 1930, in Omaha, Nebraska, displayed prodigious talent early—filing his first tax return at 13 after selling chewing gum and Coca-Cola door-to-door. Son of stockbroker Howard Buffett, he devoured finance books, buying his first stock at 11 (Cities Service Preferred, $38/share). By 14, he invested $1,200 from a pinball machine venture into farmland. Columbia Business School under Benjamin Graham honed his value investing ethos: buy undervalued companies with "moats" and hold forever.
At 21, Buffett worked for Graham in New York before returning to Omaha in 1956, starting Buffett Partnership Ltd. with $105,100. Compounding at 30% annually, it grew to $7 million by 1962. He dissolved it in 1969, pouring funds into Berkshire Hathaway—a struggling textile firm he acquired control of in 1965 for $14.86/share. Pivoting from textiles, he transformed it into an investment behemoth: insurance (Geico, fully owned 1996), utilities, railroads (BNSF, $44B in 2009), and consumer icons like Dairy Queen, Duracell.
Buffett's folksy wisdom shines in annual letters—folksy, incisive. He pledged 99% of his wealth to philanthropy in 2006, mostly to the Gates Foundation; by 2025, he's donated $50B+ in Berkshire stock. Married twice—Susan Thompson (1952–2004, three children: Susie, Howard, Peter) and Astrid Menks (2006)—he lives in his $31,500 1958 Omaha home, sipping Cherry Coke, shunning jets for economy flights.
At 95, Buffett announced his 2025 CEO retirement, handing reins to Greg Abel while staying chairman. Berkshire's $1T market cap reflects his genius: Apple stake alone ($180B+). Net worth: $148.6B (October 2025), yet he earns $100K salary, embodying humility. From paperboy to sage, Buffett proves patience trumps speculation—timeless lessons in a volatile world.
At 21, Buffett worked for Graham in New York before returning to Omaha in 1956, starting Buffett Partnership Ltd. with $105,100. Compounding at 30% annually, it grew to $7 million by 1962. He dissolved it in 1969, pouring funds into Berkshire Hathaway—a struggling textile firm he acquired control of in 1965 for $14.86/share. Pivoting from textiles, he transformed it into an investment behemoth: insurance (Geico, fully owned 1996), utilities, railroads (BNSF, $44B in 2009), and consumer icons like Dairy Queen, Duracell.
Buffett's folksy wisdom shines in annual letters—folksy, incisive. He pledged 99% of his wealth to philanthropy in 2006, mostly to the Gates Foundation; by 2025, he's donated $50B+ in Berkshire stock. Married twice—Susan Thompson (1952–2004, three children: Susie, Howard, Peter) and Astrid Menks (2006)—he lives in his $31,500 1958 Omaha home, sipping Cherry Coke, shunning jets for economy flights.
At 95, Buffett announced his 2025 CEO retirement, handing reins to Greg Abel while staying chairman. Berkshire's $1T market cap reflects his genius: Apple stake alone ($180B+). Net worth: $148.6B (October 2025), yet he earns $100K salary, embodying humility. From paperboy to sage, Buffett proves patience trumps speculation—timeless lessons in a volatile world.