Warren Buffett: The Oracle of Omaha's 90-Year Journey

Born to Invest

Warren Buffett was born on August 30, 1930, in Omaha, Nebraska. His father Howard Buffett was a stockbroker and US Congressman. Warren showed business instincts from an extraordinary young age — he bought his first stock at age 11 (Cities Service Preferred at $38 per share), filed his first tax return at age 13 (deducting his bicycle as a business expense for his paper route), and had saved $9,800 by age 16.

Benjamin Graham and Columbia Business School

Rejected by Harvard Business School, Buffett attended Columbia Business School specifically to study under Benjamin Graham, the father of value investing. Graham's philosophy — buying stocks trading below their intrinsic value — became the foundation of Buffett's approach. He graduated top of his class and later worked at Graham-Newman Corp until Graham retired.

Buffett Partnership and Berkshire Hathaway

At age 25, Buffett started an investment partnership with $105,000. By 1966 the partnership had a 29.5% annualized return. He dissolved the partnership in 1969 and began acquiring Berkshire Hathaway — originally a failing textile company — transforming it into a holding company. Through Berkshire he bought GEICO, Coca-Cola, American Express, Apple, and hundreds of other companies, creating history's most extraordinary investment portfolio.

Philosophy and the "Moat" Concept

Buffett's investing philosophy centers on buying businesses with durable competitive advantages — "economic moats" — at fair prices and holding them forever. His famous rules: "Rule No. 1: Never lose money. Rule No. 2: Never forget Rule No. 1." His annual letters to Berkshire shareholders are studied as investment textbooks worldwide.

Philanthropy: The Giving Pledge

Despite a net worth over $100 billion, Buffett famously lives in the same Omaha house he bought in 1958 for $31,500 and drives himself to McDonald's breakfast every morning. In 2006 he pledged to donate 99% of his wealth to charity, primarily the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, making the largest charitable pledge in history. He co-founded the Giving Pledge with Bill Gates, convincing billionaires worldwide to donate their fortunes.