Warren Buffett Retires at 94, Leaving 99% of His Wealth to Charity
Widely regarded as the greatest investor ever, Buffett transformed a struggling textile mill into a $1.16 trillion empire-not by creating products, but by buying businesses, holding long-term, and mastering capital allocation.
At Berkshire Hathaway’s 2025 annual meeting, Buffett announced his retirement as CEO, passing the role to Greg Abel while remaining an advisor.
🔑 Key Highlights:
🔹️ Took over Berkshire in 1965 when shares were ~$18; today they trade above $600,000.
🔹️ Built major stakes in Coca-Cola, American Express, Apple, BNSF, GEICO, and more.
🔹️ Avoided hype, tech fads, and speculation-focused on value, cash flow, and strong management.
🔹️ Made bold moves during crises, like buying banks during the 2008 crash.
🔹️ Lived modestly: same Omaha house since 1958, ate McDonald’s, drank Coke, read 5–6 hours daily, rarely used a computer.
● His Investment Principles:
🔹️ Margin of safety
🔹️ Circle of competence
🔹️ Compounding
🔹️ Don’t lose money
In 2024, Berkshire paid $26.8 billion in corporate taxes-the largest single-year tax payment by any U.S. company, accounting for 5% of all corporate tax collected that year.
At his final shareholder meeting, Buffett said:
“You don’t need a high IQ to succeed in investing. You need a rational, stable temperament.”
He played one game for 70 years-and he won.
If you want to understand money, study everything Buffett has written. There may never be another investor like him.
Here are some recent Warren Buffett quotes, gathered from reports in the last day:
~ "Long ago, Ben Graham taught me that 'Price is what you pay; value is what you get.' Whether we're talking about socks or stocks, I like buying quality merchandise when it is marked down."
~ "I don't invest to make a quick profit. I buy stocks with the mindset that the market might shut down tomorrow and stay closed for five years."
~ "It's far better to buy a wonderful company at a fair price than a fair company at a wonderful price."
~ "Be fearful when others are greedy, and greedy when others are fearful."
~ "The stock market is a device for transferring money from the impatient to the patient."
~ "If you don't find a way to make money while you sleep, you will work until you die."
~ "The most important thing to do if you find yourself in a hole is to stop digging."
~ "Don't pass up something that's attractive today because you think you will find something better tomorrow."
~ "Opportunities come infrequently. When it rains gold, put out the bucket, not the thimble."
~ "Games are won by players who focus on the playing field – not by those whose eyes are glued to the scoreboard."
~ Regarding international trade: "We want a prosperous world. With eight countries with nuclear weapons, including a few that are quite unstable, I don't think it's a great idea to design a world where a few countries say, ha ha ha, we've won."
~ On the U.S. economy: "Capitalism in the United States has succeeded like nothing you've ever seen."
~ About investments in unstable currencies: "We wouldn't want to be owning anything in a currency we really thought was going to hell."
These quotes touch on various aspects of Buffett's philosophy, including value investing, long-term thinking, understanding market psychology, and his broader economic views.
Warren Buffett, often called the "Oracle of Omaha," is one of the most successful investors in the world and the chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway.
His annual letters to shareholders are widely read for his insights on investing and business. Buffett's investment strategy is centered on value investing, buying undervalued companies with strong fundamentals and holding them for the long term.
He emphasizes patience, discipline, and understanding the businesses he invests in.
Beyond investing, Buffett is known for his philanthropic efforts and his straightforward, often folksy, communication style.