Warren Buffet

NAME Warren Buffett

WHAT FAMOUS FOR Warren Buffett is renowned for being one of the most successful investors of all time and the chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. He is also known for his philanthropic efforts and his down-to-earth lifestyle despite his immense wealth.

BIRTH Warren Edward Buffett was born on August 30, 1930, in Omaha, Nebraska, USA.

FAMILY BACKGROUND Warren Buffett was born to Howard Buffett, a stockbroker and later a U.S. congressman, and Leila Stahl Buffett. He has two siblings, Doris and Roberta.

CHILDHOOD As a child, Warren showed an early interest in business and investing. He sold chewing gum, Coca-Cola, and weekly magazines door-to-door. He bought his first stock at age 11 and filed his first tax return at 13.

EDUCATION Young Warren Buffett started his schooling at Rose Hill Elementary, a place no doubt filled with eager youngsters yearning for knowledge (or at least free milk).  Then, in 1942, life took a turn  when his dad got himself elected to Congress, whisking the whole Buffett brood off to the nation's capital.

Washington, D.C., wasn't all cherry blossoms and monuments for young Warren.  Sure, there were fancy schools with names like Alice Deal Junior High (one wonders what Alice Deal did to merit such an honor), but there was also the realization that grown-ups, even your own dad, can be surprisingly bad at picking neckties.

By 1947, Warren had graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School, a place that clearly saw his potential, as evidenced by his senior yearbook quote: "likes math; a future stockbroker." A prescient prediction, if ever there was one.  

College, however, proved to be a bit of a roundabout journey.  He first set off for the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, most likely because his father envisioned him in a nice pinstripe suit carrying a briefcase full of important-looking papers.  But Warren, ever the independent soul, wasn't exactly enamored with the theoretical side of business.  He craved the real deal, the thrill of the market, the chance to turn a nickel into a dime (and then a quarter, and then, well, you get the idea).

So, after a couple of years at Wharton he hightailed it back to his home state of Nebraska, where he graduated with a business degree at the ripe old age of 19.  Harvard Business School, the crown jewel of finance education, sniffed at his application, a decision they surely live to regret every single day.  But Buffett, ever resourceful, found his way to Columbia Business School, lured in by the siren song of Benjamin Graham, the man who would become his financial guru.  Here, he finally found his academic haven, graduating with a Master's in Economics in 1951.  And just to make sure he had every financial angle covered, he even went on to attend the New York Institute of Finance.  Clearly, this young man wasn't messing around.

CAREER RECORD Buffet filed his first tax return at age 13, reporting income from his paper route and claiming a $35 deduction for his bicycle. He began his career by purchasing a failing textiles company, Berkshire Hathaway, out of spite after its president lowballed him. Despite considering it his biggest investment mistake, Buffett turned Berkshire Hathaway into a Fortune 500 top 10 company. He spends about 80% of his day reading, a habit he cultivated early in his career, reading 600-1,000 pages daily.

APPEARANCE Warren Buffett is often seen in conservative business attire, typically a suit and tie. He is known for his approachable and unpretentious demeanor.

Warren Buffett at the 2015 SelectUSA Investment Summit

FASHION Buffett’s fashion style is simple and traditional, reflecting his pragmatic approach to life and business.

CHARACTER Buffett is known for his integrity, patience, and long-term perspective on investing. He is also famous for his humility and frugality despite his wealth.

SENSE OF HUMOUR Buffett has a well-known sense of humor, often making self-deprecating jokes and witty remarks. For example, he once paid for a meal at McDonald's for Bill Gates using coupons.

RELATIONSHIPS Buffet married Susan Thompson in 1952 at the Dundee Presbyterian Church in Omaha. In 1977 she left her husband and moved in with her paramour, John McCabe, but she and Buffet remained married until her death in 2004. They had three children: Susie, Howard, and Peter. 

His son Peter once thought his dad's job was checking security alarm systems, unaware of his father's true occupation and wealth.

On August 30, 2006 (his 76th birthday) Buffet married his longtime companion, Astrid Menks, whom he'd been introduced to by Susan. 

He plans to give most of his wealth to charity, leaving only a small portion to his children to ensure they can do anything but not nothing.

MONEY AND FAME As of June 2024, he had a net worth of $135 billion, making him the tenth-richest person in the world.

Buffett, with his economics background polished to a shine at the New York Institute of Finance, was never destined for a life of filing invoices.  The business bug bit him young, and soon he was buzzing around like a particularly enthusiastic bumblebee, starting ventures left and right.  One such venture involved his financial guru Benjamin Graham.

In 1956, Buffett decided to strike out on his own, forming Buffett Partnership Ltd.  This wasn't some fly-by-night operation in a converted broom closet, mind you.  This was a company with a plan, a dream, and an ever-so-slightly peculiar destiny. Because, wouldn't you know it, this illustrious firm ended up acquiring a textile manufacturing company called Berkshire Hathaway.  Who knew that itchy sweaters would be the springboard to financial superstardom?

Buffett, ever the shrewd fellow, saw the potential in Berkshire Hathaway beyond its questionable fashion sense.  He transformed it into a diversified holding company, a financial octopus with its tentacles wrapped around a variety of businesses.  And by 1970, he was the undisputed king of this financial fiefdom, chairman and majority shareholder.  A natural-born leader, you might say, though perhaps a touch less flamboyant than a king typically is (unless you count his fondness for Cherry Coke, which some might consider a fashion faux pas).

In 1978, he was joined by his long-time associate Charlie Munger, a fellow financial whiz who no doubt brought his own brand of brilliance (and possibly a slightly more adventurous sock collection) to the table.  Together, they steered Berkshire Hathaway to even greater heights, turning it into one of America's most formidable holding companies.

Buffett, the "Oracle of Omaha" as some called him (though he probably preferred "Savvy Investor with a Penchant for Sensible Shoes"), became a legend in the financial world.  His fortune grew like kudzu vines on a humid summer day, yet he remained a man of simple tastes – a testament to his value investing philosophy.

This wasn't just about accumulating wealth for Buffett, though.  He pledged to give away a whopping 99% of his fortune to philanthropy, a move that would make Scrooge McDuck himself blush.  He even started a club with Bill Gates – The Giving Pledge, how very literal – to encourage other billionaires to loosen their purse strings. 

FOOD AND DRINK Buffett is known for his simple tastes, favoring hamburgers, Coca-Cola, and Dairy Queen treats.

MUSIC AND ARTS Buffet has a passion for ukulele music and occasionally performs at shareholder meetings and events.

LITERATURE Buffett is an avid reader, consuming a vast array of books, newspapers, and financial reports daily. He spends about 80% of his day reading, a habit he cultivated early in his career, reading 600-1,000 pages daily

NATURE While not particularly known for his engagement with nature, Buffett's philanthropic efforts include significant contributions to environmental causes.

HOBBIES AND SPORTS Buffett enjoys playing bridge, a game he often plays with Bill Gates. He also has a passion for golf.

SCIENCE AND MATHS Buffett's investment strategies heavily rely on mathematical principles and statistical analysis.

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY Buffett’s philosophy centers on value investing, integrity, and long-term thinking. 

Warren Buffet is part of "The Good Club" a group of billionaires giving away massive amounts of money to charitable causes. The secrecy surrounding the group's meetings and decision-making processes raises concerns about accountability.

Warren Buffett has been open about being agnostic. He clarifies that he's not an atheist (disbelieving in God) or a theist (believing in God). He simply doesn't have a definitive answer.

POLITICS Originally a Republican, Buffett became an active Democrat, influenced by his first wife's involvement in the civil rights movement.

SCANDAL Warren Buffett's career has been relatively scandal-free. His biggest acknowledged mistake was purchasing Berkshire Hathaway out of spite, a decision he later regretted.

Some criticize the idea of "The Good Club" as a small group of wealthy individuals dictating solutions for global problems. The belief by some right-wing blogs that the group promotes forced sterilization is a serious accusation. 

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS Buffett's health has been relatively stable. He underwent treatment for prostate cancer in 2012 but has maintained an active lifestyle.

HOMES Buffett resides in a 6,000 square-foot home in Omaha, Nebraska, which he purchased in 1958 for $31,500 (about $250,000 today).

Buffett's home in Omaha, Nebraska

TRAVEL Buffett's travel is often related to his business engagements and philanthropic activities, though he is known to keep a relatively low profile.

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA Buffett has been featured in numerous books, documentaries, and interviews, highlighting his investment philosophy and life story.

ACHIEVEMENTS Buffett's achievements include transforming Berkshire Hathaway into a multibillion-dollar conglomerate, co-founding The Giving Pledge, and being recognized as one of the greatest investors of all time.

Buffett has won numerous accolades, including a $1 million bet that a simple index fund would outperform hedge funds over a decade, a bet he won and donated the proceeds to charity. He co-founded The Giving Pledge with Bill Gates, encouraging billionaires to donate at least half their wealth to charitable causes.