Who hasn’t heard of Warren Buffett? Although he does not like to flaunt his wealth such as driving around in gold-plated cars or flies in private jets. He lives in the same house he bought in 1958 and drinks Coca-Cola like it’s going out of style. Still, he is ranked among the richest people in the world and is often considered one of the most admired.
Known as the “Oracle of Omaha”, Buffett isn’t a fancy tech guru or a magical oil businessman. He earned his riches by being smart, frugal and patient and by backing the right businesses. In this article, we will look at his early years, his career growth, his personal life and more.
Birth, Parents and Early Life
Warren Edward Buffett came into this world on 30 August 1930 in Omaha Nebraska, a calm and unassuming city in America’s heartland. His father, Howard Buffett, worked as a stockbroker before moving on to serve as a U.S. congressman. His mother, Leila Buffett, stayed home to look after the family and raised Warren and his two sisters.
Even as a young child, Warren stood out from others. By the age of 6, he was already searching for ways to make money. He bought a six-pack of Coca-Cola for 25 cents and sold the bottles at a nickel each. This earned him a small profit. It may seem like a minor thing, but it gave him excitement and taught him a lasting lesson. By the time he was 11, he bought his first stock. And by 13, he’d filed his first tax return.
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Education
School wasn’t Buffett’s favourite thing. He was smart, but textbooks didn’t interest him. Numbers, charts, and anything tied to money, though? That was a different story.
He attended Woodrow Wilson High and later went to the University of Nebraska. By 19, he had already finished his degree. After graduating, he tried to get into Harvard Business School. They rejected him.
So, he ended up joining Columbia Business School instead. There, he met Benjamin Graham. Graham was a professor who changed the way Buffett thought. He taught Buffett how to find businesses that were “solid companies that most investors overlooked. That one lesson ended up shaping Buffett’s entire career.
Career
Warren Buffett didn’t become rich overnight. He started small, working for Benjamin Graham’s firm for a bit, then going back to Omaha to start his own partnerships.
He bought shares in companies that looked boring but were quietly doing well. Think insurance firms, newspapers, and banks—things most people overlooked.
One of his early big moves was buying a struggling textile company called Berkshire Hathaway. He eventually turned it into a holding company and used it to buy other businesses.
Through Berkshire Hathaway, Buffett invested in some of the most well-known brands on the planet:
- Coca-Cola
- American Express
- Gillette
- Dairy Queen
- Kraft Heinz
- Apple
His approach was simple: buy good businesses, let them run, and don’t mess with them too much. He famously avoids stocks he doesn’t understand—he stayed away from dot-com companies during the 1990s tech boom, and while he looked a bit out of touch at the time, it saved him from the crash that followed. Buffett also writes a yearly letter to shareholders, which is oddly enjoyable to read. It’s clear, witty, and often full of little jokes; yet packed with financial wisdom.
Personal Life: Family, Loss, and Friendship
Warren married Susan Thompson in 1952. She was a singer and activist, and they had three children together:
- Susan Alice Buffett (born 1953)
- Howard Graham Buffett (born 1954)
- Peter Buffett (born 1958)
The couple drifted apart in the 1970s but never divorced. They remained close, and Susan even helped introduce Warren to Astrid Menks, the woman he later married in 2006 (two years after Susan passed away). All three of them—Susan, Astrid, and Warren—had a good relationship, which is rare and heartening.
Buffett’s kids didn’t inherit their father’s billions. He always believed in letting them build their own lives, though he did support them along the way. His son Peter is a musician, Howard runs a farm and does charity work, and Susan Alice is involved in education and philanthropy.
Social Media
Warren Buffett is not on Instagram showing off his breakfast. In fact, he’s known for staying away from social media entirely.
He does have a Twitter account/X (@WarrenBuffett), but it’s rarely active. And no, you won’t catch him on Facebook or LinkedIn. He prefers old-fashioned phone calls, long letters, and face-to-face chats.
But that doesn’t mean he’s out of touch. He often speaks at events and does interviews, and every year he holds a massive Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting. Thousands of people fly to Omaha just to hear him speak—it’s often called “Woodstock for Capitalists”.
Net Worth
By 2025, Warren Buffett’s fortune stands at about £90 billion, which is close to $115 billion. He ranks among the five wealthiest individuals .
What’s surprising is that he plans to give all of it away. Buffett has pledged to donate more than 99% of his fortune to help others. He began by donating billions to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and has been doing so every year without fail.
Along with Bill Gates, he also launched The Giving Pledge. This initiative urges billionaires to promise to give the majority of their money to charity. Since then, many wealthy individuals have joined this cause.
Latest with Warren Buffet
- A Large Amount of Cash – Warren Buffett has a massive amount of cash right now. He’s holding onto an incredible $348 billion. Instead of piling it into stocks, he’s been selling for ten straight quarters. The reason? He doesn’t think there are enough good bargains out there right now.
- BYD Beats Tesla – At the same time, one of his key long-term investments is doing well. BYD, a Chinese electric car company, has overtaken Tesla in EV sales. Additonally, they have plans to expand in Europe and Southeast Asia. That slow and steady strategy is starting to seem like a genius move.
- Step Down as Berkshire Hathaway CEO – Buffett announced he will step down as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway before 2025 wraps up. Greg Abel will become the new leader. Also, Buffett is giving away most of his wealth about $153 billion, to charity. It’s a move that feels very true to who he has always been.
- Interest in Warren’s Old Letters – Fans are revisiting his old investor letters from the 1950s and 60s. Even then, he stuck to his core ideas: think for yourself, ignore the hype, and safeguard your money at all costs.
Final Words
Warren Buffett shows that success doesn’t require being showy, aggressive, or loud. He spends time reading and thinking, keeps a steady temperament, and focuses on what he understands best. He has owned the same house for years, has McDonald’s breakfasts, and even uses coupons when shopping. Despite all that, he has left a bigger mark on modern finance than most others.
While many chase fast results, his life proves that taking your time, staying curious, and being a little kind can make a huge difference. The next time you picture billionaires living it up with yachts and flashy Instagram posts, imagine the man in Omaha drinking a Cherry Coke going through company reports, and sharing most of his wealth with others.
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