Warren Buffett is universally regarded as the greatest investor of all time. Known affectionately as the ‘Oracle of Omaha,’ his biography is a profound study in patience, discipline, and the power of compound interest applied over a lifetime. This article covers Warren Buffett’s age, wife, net worth, investment career, education, lifestyle, source of wealth, and more.
Quick Facts: Warren Buffett Wiki
- Full Name: Warren Edward Buffett
- Date of Birth: August 30, 1930
- Age: 95 years old (as of 2026)
- Birthplace: Omaha, Nebraska, USA
- Nationality: American
- Religion: Agnostic
- Ethnicity: White American (English and French Huguenot descent)
- Occupation: Investor, Businessman, Philanthropist
- Net Worth: Approximately $140 billion (2026)
Early Life and Background
Warren Edward Buffett was born on August 30, 1930, in Omaha, Nebraska, to Howard Buffett, a stockbroker and later a U.S. Congressman, and Leila Stahl Buffett. He was the second of three children and the only boy. From the very earliest age, Warren demonstrated an extraordinary aptitude for numbers and money.
His entrepreneurial instincts showed up before he reached his teens. At age six, he bought six packs of Coca-Cola from his grandfather’s store for 25 cents and sold individual bottles for a nickel each, pocketing a small profit. At age 10, he visited the New York Stock Exchange for the first time and was captivated by the mechanics of investing. At age 11, he bought his first stock: three shares of Cities Service Preferred at $38 per share.
Education
Warren Buffett attended Rose Hill Elementary School and Rosehill School in Washington, D.C. (during his father’s congressional terms), and Alice Deal Junior High School. He enrolled at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 1950 at age 19.
He was initially rejected by Harvard Business School, a rejection that he later said changed his life, as it led him to apply to Columbia Business School, where he studied under the legendary investor Benjamin Graham. Graham’s philosophy of value investing, which focuses on buying companies trading below their intrinsic value, became the intellectual foundation of Buffett’s entire career.
He earned his Master of Science in Economics from Columbia Business School in 1951. Graham became his mentor, and Buffett has cited him as the most influential person in his life outside of his own father.
Career Journey
After graduating from Columbia, Buffett returned to Omaha and began his investment career. He worked briefly at Graham-Newman Corporation in New York before returning to Nebraska. In 1956, he formed the Buffett Partnership, Ltd., a series of investment partnerships in which he initially invested $100. By 1965, the partnership had grown enormously, and Buffett had accumulated enough capital to take control of a struggling textile company called Berkshire Hathaway.
He initially kept the textile business running but gradually shifted Berkshire Hathaway into a holding company for investments. Over the following decades, Berkshire Hathaway became one of the most successful investment vehicles in history, generating returns that vastly outperformed the S&P 500 for decades.
Buffett’s investment philosophy centers on buying wonderful companies at fair prices and holding them for the very long term. His major holdings have included Coca-Cola, American Express, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Apple, Geico (which Berkshire owns outright), and scores of other businesses.
As of 2025, Berkshire Hathaway is one of the most valuable companies in the world, with a portfolio worth hundreds of billions of dollars. Buffett remains actively involved at age 94 but has named Greg Abel as his designated successor as CEO.
Personal Life
Warren Buffett is legendary for his humble, frugal lifestyle despite being one of the wealthiest people in the world. He still lives in the same house in Omaha, Nebraska that he bought in 1958 for $31,500. He drives himself to work, eats at McDonald’s regularly, drinks multiple Cherry Cokes a day, and prefers simple American food like hamburgers and hash browns. He famously does not own a smartphone.
Wife: Who Is Warren Buffett With?
Warren Buffett was married to Susan Thompson Buffett from 1952 until her death in 2004. Susan was a deeply important figure in his life; although the two separated in the mid-1970s when Susan moved to San Francisco to pursue her music career, they remained legally married and deeply connected until her death.
In 1978, Susan introduced Warren to Astrid Menks, a cocktail waitress in Omaha, and the three maintained a uniquely close arrangement in which Astrid became Warren’s companion while Susan remained his wife. All three were on good terms, and their Christmas cards were reportedly signed ‘Warren, Susie, and Astrid.’
Warren Buffett married Astrid Menks on August 26, 2006, exactly two years after Susan’s death. They remain married as of 2025.
Children
Warren Buffett and Susan Thompson Buffett had three children together. Their eldest son, Howard Graham Buffett, was born in 1954 and is a farmer, photographer, and philanthropist who is expected to serve as the non-executive chairman of Berkshire Hathaway after Warren’s death. Their second child, Susan Alice Buffett, was born in 1953 and runs the Sherwood Foundation, a philanthropic organization. Their youngest son, Peter Buffett, was born in 1958 and is a musician and author.
Net Worth
Warren Buffett’s net worth is estimated at approximately $140 billion as of 2025, making him one of the six wealthiest people in the world. His source of wealth is almost entirely his ownership stake in Berkshire Hathaway. Remarkably, he has given away approximately $50 billion to philanthropic causes over his lifetime, primarily to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and has pledged to give away virtually all of his remaining wealth.
Cars and House
Warren Buffett is famously modest in his lifestyle. He still lives in the five-bedroom house in the Dundee neighborhood of Omaha, Nebraska, that he purchased for $31,500 in 1958. The house is estimated to be worth around $1.5 million today, a tiny fraction of his net worth.
He drives a Cadillac XTS, a relatively modest choice for a man of his wealth. He previously drove a Cadillac DTS for many years. His daughter Susie reportedly helps him buy a new car every few years. He has noted that he has no interest in yachts, private jets for personal use (though Berkshire owns NetJets, a fractional jet ownership company), or other extravagances.
Businesses and Investments
- Berkshire Hathaway (CEO and controlling shareholder)
- Major holdings: Apple, Bank of America, American Express, Coca-Cola, Chevron, Occidental Petroleum
- Wholly owned subsidiaries: GEICO, BNSF Railway, Berkshire Hathaway Energy, Precision Castparts
- The Giving Pledge (co-founded with Bill Gates, a commitment by billionaires to give away majority of wealth)
- Buffett Foundation (philanthropic giving, channeled primarily through the Gates Foundation)
Awards and Achievements
- Presidential Medal of Freedom (2011)
- Forbes Richest Person in the World (2008)
- Berkshire Hathaway stock (BRK.A) became the highest-priced stock on the NYSE
- Generated compounded annual returns of approximately 20% over nearly six decades
- Co-founded The Giving Pledge with Bill and Melinda Gates in 2010
- Named TIME’s 100 Most Influential People (multiple times)
Social Media Handles
- Twitter/X: @WarrenBuffett (exists but rarely active)
- Note: Warren Buffett famously does not use a smartphone or social media actively
Interesting Facts About Warren Buffett
- He still lives in the same Omaha house he bought for $31,500 in 1958.
- He has donated approximately $50 billion to charity, primarily the Gates Foundation.
- He drinks multiple Cherry Cokes every single day.
- He filed his first tax return at age 13, deducting his bicycle as a business expense.
- He earned his first $1 million by age 30.
- His annual letter to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders is one of the most read documents in the investment world.
Read More: Bill Gates Biography: Age, Wife, Net Worth, Microsoft and Philanthropy
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How old is Warren Buffett?
Warren Buffett was born on August 30, 1930. He is 95 years old as of 2026.
What is Warren Buffett’s net worth?
His net worth is approximately $140 billion as of 2026.
Who is Warren Buffett’s wife?
Warren Buffett is married to Astrid Menks, whom he married in 2006 after the death of his first wife Susan Thompson Buffett.
What is Warren Buffett’s source of wealth?
His source of wealth is almost entirely his controlling stake in Berkshire Hathaway.
What is Warren Buffett’s investment philosophy?
He practices value investing, which involves buying high-quality companies at reasonable prices and holding them for the long term.
Conclusion
Warren Buffett’s biography is a uniquely American story of discipline, simplicity, and staggering financial genius. From a boy selling gum door-to-door in Omaha to the Oracle of Omaha overseeing a trillion-dollar empire, his life is a testament to the power of patience and compound interest applied over a very long time. At 94, he remains one of the most watched and respected figures in global finance.
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