Warren Buffett

Biography

Buffett bought his first stock at 11 and filed his first tax return at 13. Through Berkshire Hathaway he assembled a conglomerate spanning insurance, railroads and energy, compounding money for six decades while living in the same Omaha house he bought in 1958.

American investor, the 'Oracle of Omaha', whose patience and plain speaking made him the most famous value investor alive.

Known for

Turning Berkshire Hathaway into one of the world's most valuable companies.

Notable works & defining projects

• Berkshire Hathaway
• The Essays of Warren Buffett
• Annual shareholder letters

Notable achievements

• Led Berkshire Hathaway to a market value exceeding $1 trillion in 2024
• Co-founded the Giving Pledge (2010) and has pledged to give away over 99% of his wealth
• His annual shareholder letters are among the most widely read documents in business

Timeline

1. 1965Took control of textile firm Berkshire Hathaway
2. 1985Closed the textile business, completing the pivot to insurance and investing
3. 2025Announced he would step down as Berkshire CEO at the end of the year

Did you know?

• He bought his first shares at age 11 — three shares of Cities Service Preferred
• He still lives in the Omaha house he purchased in 1958