Who is Warren Buffett, the ‘Oracle of Omaha’?
Warren Buffett, an American investor and philanthropist, is currently the chairman and CEO of the conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway. Known as the ‘Oracle of Omaha,’ the businessman is widely considered the most successful investor of the 20th and early 21st centuries.
| Company | Value | Change | %Change |
|---|
As per Bloomberg’s Billionaire Index, Warren Buffett is ranked the 9th richest person in the world with about $150 billion net worth. This year so far, his wealth has grown by $7.97 billion.
He runs Berkshire Hathaway, which owns multiple companies such as insurer Geico, battery maker Duracell and restaurant chain Dairy Queen. Buffett was also awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011.
Born in 1930 to Howard and Leila Buffett, Warren first bought stock at age 11, and first filed taxes at age 13. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska and then earned his Master’s in Economics from Columbia University.
In 1956, he launched Buffett Associates and later purchased a house in Omaha. Buffett was already a millionaire at the age of 30 years old in 1962 when he teamed up with Charlie Munger, whom he first met in 1959.
Their partnership eventually culminated in the formation of an investment philosophy based on Buffett’s concept of value investing as more than just wringing the last few dollars out of dying companies.
Further, they bought a dying textile mill ‘Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A)’, which later evolved into a longer-term investment.
In June 2006, he announced the donation of around 80% of his wealth to the charitable foundations. The most notable recipient was the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which focuses on world health and education challenges.
The other organizations were those handled by Buffett’s three children and the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation, which is named after his late wife.
Buffett, widely regarded as the greatest investor of all time, has had a major impact on finance, business, philanthropy, investing and other fields and the principles he has taught throughout his life have helped shape the minds of many entrepreneurs, investors and others.