Warren Buffett

The Oracle of Omaha and World's Greatest Investor

business
Warren Buffett

Net Worth

$120B

Born

August 30, 1930 (age 95)

Country

United States

Occupation

Investor, CEO, Philanthropist

Gender

male

Generation

Silent Generation

Marital Status

married

Children

3

Single Parent Household

No

Education

Master's

University

University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Columbia University

Industries

business

Wealth Category

billionaire

Wealth Origin

self-made

First-Gen Wealth

Yes

Overcame

  • • Rejected by Harvard Business School
  • • Lost significant money on early textile investment in Berkshire Hathaway
  • • Faced criticism for not investing in tech during dot-com boom
  • • Lost first wife Susan to stroke in 2004

Warren Buffett is an American investor and philanthropist who serves as chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. Known as the 'Oracle of Omaha,' he is widely considered the greatest investor of all time. He built his fortune through value investing, compound interest, and patient capital allocation, becoming one of the wealthiest people in world history.

Career Timeline

1930

Born in Omaha, Nebraska

1941 Age 11
Turning Point

Bought first stock (Cities Service preferred); filed first tax return

1950 Age 20
Turning Point

Rejected by Harvard; enrolled at Columbia Business School

1951 Age 21
Milestone

Earned MS in Economics from Columbia; studied under Benjamin Graham

1956 Age 26
Milestone

Started Buffett Partnership with $105,100 from family and friends

1965 Age 35
Turning Point

Took control of Berkshire Hathaway textile company

1988 Age 58
Milestone

Invested $1 billion in Coca-Cola; became largest shareholder

2006 Age 76
Milestone

Pledged to donate 99% of wealth to philanthropy

2010 Age 80
Achievement

Co-founded The Giving Pledge with Bill Gates

Notable Quotes

"Rule number one: Never lose money. Rule number two: Never forget rule number one."

— Shareholder Letter, 2005

"The stock market is a device for transferring money from the impatient to the patient."

— Shareholder Letter, 1991

"Price is what you pay. Value is what you get."

— Shareholder Letter, 2008

"Our favorite holding period is forever."