Warren Buffett

Warren Buffett is an American businessman, investor, and philanthropist who serves as the co-founder, chairman, and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. He is known for his successful investment strategies and his commitment to philanthropy. Here are some key points about Warren Buffett:

Early Life and Education

• Birth and Family: Warren Buffett was born on August 30, 1930, in Omaha, Nebraska, to Howard Buffett, a US congressman and businessman.
• Education: Buffett attended the University of Nebraska, graduating at 19 with a Bachelor of Science in business administration. He then earned a Master of Science in economics from Columbia Business School in 1951.

Career

• Early Ventures: Buffett began his business career by delivering newspapers and selling candy and magazines door-to-door. At 11, he purchased his first stock, three preferred shares of Cities Service.
• Investment Philosophy: Buffett developed his investment philosophy around the concept of value investing, which emphasizes buying undervalued stocks and holding them for the long term.
• Berkshire Hathaway: Buffett founded Buffett Partnership Ltd. in 1956 and later acquired a textile manufacturing firm, Berkshire Hathaway, which he transformed into a diversified holding company. He has been the chairman and largest shareholder of Berkshire Hathaway since 1970.
• Philanthropy: Buffett has pledged to give away 99% of his fortune to philanthropic causes, primarily through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. He founded the Giving Pledge in 2010 with Bill Gates to encourage billionaires to give away at least half of their fortunes.

Net Worth and Awards

• Net Worth: As of June 2024, Warren Buffett’s net worth is approximately $135 billion, making him the tenth-richest person in the world.
• Awards and Honors: Buffett has received numerous awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011.

Personal Life

• Personal Habits: Buffett is known for his frugality and has been reported to not carry a mobile phone.
• Philosophy: Buffett has emphasized the importance of living below one’s means and saving for the future.

Key Achievements

• Investment Success: Buffett has delivered a remarkable compounded annual gain of 19.8% in market value for Berkshire Hathaway since its inception in 1965.
• Philanthropic Efforts: Buffett has committed to giving away most of his fortune before his death, with a significant portion going to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Challenges and Controversies

• Market Fluctuations: Buffett’s investments have faced challenges due to market fluctuations, which have impacted his net worth.
• Philanthropic Pledge: Buffett’s pledge to give away 99% of his fortune has raised questions about the distribution of his wealth and the impact on his family.

Quotes and Insights

• Investment Philosophy: “The basic ideas of investing are to look at stocks as business, use the market’s fluctuations to your advantage, and seek a margin of safety. That’s what Ben Graham taught us. A hundred years from now they will still be the cornerstones of investing.”— Warren Buffett.