Last Updated:

2024-04-03 09:38:14

Warren Buffett

American businessman, investor, philanthropist

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American businessman, investor, philanthropist

Warren Buffett, born in 1930, is the chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. Known for his investment success, he is one of the world's best-known investors with a net worth of $139 billion. Buffett is recognized for his adherence to value investing and frugality, despite his immense wealth. He has pledged to donate 99 percent of his fortune to philanthropic causes, primarily through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Elizabeth Warren Bill Ackman Charlie Munger Hedge Fund Benjamin Graham Ben Bernanke Carl Icahn Howard Marks John Maynard Keynes Bill Gates

Warren Buffett's First Investment

Warren Buffett made his first investment at the age of eleven, which he considered as the beginning of his financial journey.

1930-08-30

Warren Buffett's Birth

Warren Buffett, the American businessman, investor, and philanthropist, was born in Omaha, Nebraska on August 30, 1930. He is known for his successful investment strategies and philanthropic endeavors.

1936

Warren Buffett Selling Juicy Fruit Chewing Gum

In 1936 at the age of 6, Warren Buffett started selling Juicy Fruit chewing gum packs, making a profit of 2 cents per pack.

1940

Warren Buffett buys his first shares

In the early 1940s, Warren Buffett, a young boy and son of a stockbroker in Omaha, Nebraska, purchased his first shares at the age of 11 after studying the daily stock quotes. He bought the shares at a price of $38 per share.

1941-01-01

Warren Buffett's First Stock Purchase

At the age of 11, Warren Buffett makes his first investment by purchasing 3 preferred shares of Cities Services for himself and his sister. He sells them at a profit as the stock price rises significantly.

1942

Warren Buffett buys Cities Service stock

In 1942, Warren Buffett purchased six shares of Cities Service stock for $38 per share, three for himself and three for his sister Doris. The stock price fluctuated, falling to $27 and then rising to $40 when he sold it. However, he missed out on further gains as the stock eventually reached $202. This experience taught him an early lesson in patience in investing.

1943

Buffett files first tax return and deducts bike as work expense

At the age of 13 in 1943, Warren Buffett filed his first tax return and claimed his bike as a work expense, deducting $35.

1945-01

Warren Buffett's First Land Purchase

Using the money he saved from selling newspapers, Warren Buffett buys 40 acres of farmland in Omaha, marking his first real estate investment.

1947

Buffett starts Wilson Coin Operated Machines company

Warren Buffett, at the age of 17 in 1947, teamed up with his friend Donald Danly to establish Wilson Coin Operated Machines. They bought a pinball machine for $25 and placed it in a barber shop, generating $50 per week.

1949

Warren Buffett's Ukulele Purchase

In 1949, Warren Buffett bought a ukulele to impress a young woman he had a crush on, who was interested in a man with a ukulele. Although he failed to capture her attention, his love for the instrument became a significant part of his life, leading to his marriage with Susan Thompson.

1950

Buffett Discovers The Intelligent Investor

In 1950, Warren Buffett came across a copy of The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham, which had a significant impact on his investment style.

1951

Warren Buffett graduates from MS '51

Warren Buffett, a prominent investor known for his value investing approach, graduated in 1951. He applied the principles of Graham and Dodd in his investment strategies.

1952

Warren Buffett marries Susan Buffett

In 1952, Warren Buffett married Susan Buffett, and they remained married until her death in 2004.

1953

First children Susan and Howard born to Warren and Susan Buffett

In 1953, Warren and Susan Buffett welcomed their first children, Susan and Howard.

1954

Buffett hired at Graham-Newman

In 1954, Warren Buffet successfully persuaded Benjamin Graham to employ him at Graham-Newman, marking a significant milestone in his career.

1956-05-01

Establishment of Buffett Associates, Ltd.

Warren Buffett establishes Buffett Associates, Ltd. in 1956, marking a significant milestone in his career as an investor and businessman.

1957

Expansion of Buffett's partnerships

In 1957, Warren Buffett created more partnerships and was managing a total of 5 partnerships from his home.

1958

Buffett Doubles Partner's Money

At the age of 28 in 1958, Warren Buffett managed to double his partner's money within 3 years.

1959

Buffett Meets Charlie Munger

In 1959 at the age of 29, Warren Buffett was introduced to Charlie Munger by his friend Edwin Davis. This meeting led to a lifelong friendship and Munger later became the Vice Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway.

1961

Buffett's Seven Partnerships

By the age of 31 in 1961, Warren Buffett was running seven partnerships including Buffett Associates, Buffett Fund, Dacee, Emdee, Glenoff, Mo-Buff, and Underwood. These partnerships were collectively worth millions and Buffett's first million dollar investment was in Dempster, a windmill manufacturing company.

1962-01-01

Starts buying Berkshire Hathaway

Warren Buffett begins purchasing shares of Berkshire Hathaway, a struggling textile manufacturing company.

1963

Buffett sells Dempster

At the age of 33, Warren Buffett sells Dempster for a gain of $2.3 million, which is three times the amount he initially invested.

1964-01-01

Invest in American Express

Following a fraud scandal that devalues American Express shares, Warren Buffett purchases a 5% stake in the company for around $13 million, leading to substantial profits as the stock price rises.

1965-01-01

Invests in Walt Disney Co.

Warren Buffett makes an investment in the Walt Disney Company, adding another prominent company to his investment portfolio.

1966-01-01

Purchase of 5% Stake in Entertainment Company

After meeting with Walt Disney himself, Warren Buffett buys a 5% stake in an entertainment company for $4 million.

1967-01-01

Acquisition of Hochschild Kohn & Co.

Warren Buffett acquires the Baltimore-based department store, Hochschild Kohn & Co., in a deal valued at around $6 million.

1968

Buffett Partnership controls 59.5% of Berkshire Hathaway

In 1968, Buffett Partnership gained control of 59.5% of Berkshire Hathaway. This marked a significant increase in their ownership stake in the company.

1969-01-01

Acquisition of National Indemnity Company

Warren Buffett acquires the Omaha-based insurance company, National Indemnity Company, in its entirety for $8.6 million.

1970

Buffett Partnership Dissolved

At the age of 40, Warren Buffett dissolves the Buffett Partnership and sells off all its assets.

1971

Warren Buffett's Laguna Beach Home Sale

Warren Buffett sold his vacation home in Laguna Beach, California, which he purchased for $150,000 in 1971, for $7.5 million in 2018. This substantial profit showcased his investment acumen.

1972-01-01

Purchase of Illinois National Bank

Warren Buffett purchases a 98% stake in Illinois National Bank, a regional bank, for $15.5 million.

1973-01-01

Acquisition of See's Candy

Warren Buffett buys See's Candy, a San Francisco-based candy and chocolate maker, for $25 million.

1974

SEC Investigation into Berkshire's Wesco Financial Acquisition

In 1974, the SEC initiated a formal investigation into Warren Buffett and Berkshire's acquisition of Wesco Financial, citing potential conflict of interest. No charges were filed.

1975

Berkshire Hathaway merges with Diversified

In 1975, at the age of 45, Warren Buffett merges Berkshire Hathaway with Diversified, a firm controlled by Charlie Munger. This merger leads to Munger receiving 2% of Berkshire's stock and becoming its vice-chairman.

1976-04-01

Invests in The Washington Post Companies

In 1976, Warren Buffett began buying shares of The Washington Post Companies, eventually acquiring a 10% stake worth around $10 million by the end of the year.

1977-01-01

Invests in GEICO

By January 1977, Warren Buffett had started buying stock in GEICO at around $2 a share when the insurer was facing bankruptcy. By 1980, Berkshire Hathaway's 33% stake had grown to $105 million from an initial investment of $47 million.

1979-01-01

Purchases Buffalo News for $32.5 million

In January 1979, Warren Buffett acquired the Buffalo News, a newspaper in the Niagara Falls metropolitan area, for $32.5 million.

1983-01-01

Invests in ABC News Network

In 1983, Warren Buffett started buying shares in the ABC News Network, expanding his media investments.

1984

Acquires Scott & Fertzer

In 1984, Warren Buffett bought the Cleveland-based diversified manufacturing company, Scott & Fertzer, for $320 million. The company's products included World Book encyclopedia, Kirby vacuum cleaners, and Ginsu knives.

1985

Buys Fechheimer Brothers Company

Warren Buffett acquired an 84% stake in the Cincinnati-based manufacturer and distributor of public safety and military uniforms, Fechheimer Brothers Company, for $46 million in 1985.

1987-10-19

Black Monday

On Black Monday in 1987, Berkshire Hathaway loses 25% of its value, dropping from $4,200 to $3,100. Warren Buffett's wealth also takes a hit, falling by $320 million.

1988-01-01

Investment in Coca-Cola

On January 1, 1988, Warren Buffett invested in Coca-Cola by purchasing a 7% stake in the renowned beverage company for just over $1 billion. Over the following two decades, Berkshire Hathaway retained this investment, which grew to exceed $10 billion.

1989-01-01

Investment in Gillette

Warren Buffett invests $600 million in preferred stock to acquire an 11% stake in Gillette, a Boston-based razor maker.

1990

Berkshire purchases 10% of Wells Fargo

In 1990, Berkshire Hathaway buys a 10% stake in Wells Fargo, further diversifying its investments in the banking sector.

1991

Berkshire acquires H. H. Brown, M&T Bank, and Guinness

During 1991, Berkshire Hathaway expands its portfolio by acquiring H. H. Brown (Footwear), M&T Bank (Banking), and Guinness (Beverages), showcasing Buffett's strategic investment decisions.

1992

Berkshire acquires Central States Indemnity of Omaha and becomes General Dynamics largest shareholder

In 1992, Berkshire Hathaway acquired Central States Indemnity of Omaha and became the largest shareholder of General Dynamics in the Aerospace industry. Warren Buffett continued to serve as Chairman at Solomon Brothers during this time.

1993

Berkshire acquires Dextor (Footwear)

In 1993, Berkshire Hathaway, led by Warren Buffett, acquired Dextor, a footwear company. Unfortunately, this investment did not turn out well.

1994

Berkshire invests in Gannett, PNC Bank, and McDonald's

During 1994, Berkshire Hathaway made strategic investments in companies like Gannett, PNC Bank, and McDonald's, expanding its portfolio under Warren Buffett's leadership.

1995

Berkshire Hathaway's annual meeting held in Omaha's Holiday Convention Center

For the first time in 1995, Berkshire Hathaway's annual meeting took place in Omaha's Holiday Convention Center, a significant event for shareholders and investors. Additionally, the company's stock price exceeded $25,000 per share.

1997

Buffett Invests in Silver

In 1997, Warren Buffett invested 2% of his portfolio in silver.

1998

Buffett acquires General Re as a subsidiary

In 1998, Warren Buffett acquired General Re as a subsidiary, facing challenges with underwriting standards and a problematic derivatives book.

1999-11

Warning on Stock Market Performance

In November 1999, Warren Buffett warned investors about the stock market's future performance, stating that it would be difficult for equities to match their historical returns in the next 17 years.

2000

Berkshire gains 1580% vs Dow Jones 280%

In 2000, Berkshire Hathaway outperformed the Dow Jones index significantly, gaining 1580% compared to the index's 280%. This remarkable performance showcased Buffett's investment prowess.

2001-04-11

The Essays of Warren Buffett: Lessons for Corporate America

The book 'The Essays of Warren Buffett: Lessons for Corporate America' was first published on April 11, 2001, providing valuable insights into Buffett's investment philosophy.

2001-09-11

Insurance claims from 9/11 terrorist attack

Insurance claims from the 9/11 terrorist attack amount to $2.28 billion.

2002

Warren Buffett Prefaces The Intelligent Investor

In 2002, Warren Buffett prefaced an edition of Benjamin Graham's 'The Intelligent Investor,' calling it the 'best book ever written about investing.' Buffett credits much of his success to his relationship with Graham.

2003

Berkshire acquires Clayton Homes, McLane, and Burlington Industries

In 2003, Berkshire Hathaway acquired Clayton Homes, a housing company, McLane, a wholesale distributor, and Burlington Industries, a clothing and furnishings company.

2004

Bill Gates elected as Berkshire Hathaway director

In 2004, Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft, was elected as a director of Berkshire Hathaway.

2005

Berkshire and other investment groups purchase $500 million in Level 3 Communications bonds

In 2005, Berkshire Hathaway, along with other investment groups, bought $500 million worth of Level 3 Communications bonds.

2006-04

Buffett gains $2 billion from forward contracts

Warren Buffett enters a deal involving $11 billion worth of forward contracts, resulting in a total gain of over $2 billion by April 2006, through currency exchange.

2006-06

Warren Buffett announces $37 billion donation

In June 2006, Warren Buffett announces his plan to give away more than 80% of his $44 billion fortune to five foundations through annual gifts of stock, with the largest contribution going to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

2006-07

Warren Buffett's Marriage to Astrid Menks

On his 76th birthday in 2006, Warren Buffett married his longtime companion, Astrid Menks. They had been living together since Susan Buffett's departure in 1977. The relationship was acknowledged by Susan before her death.

2007

Berkshire stock passes $100,000/share

In 2007, the stock price of Berkshire Hathaway surpasses $100,000 per share, reflecting the company's strong performance and investor confidence.

2008-04-14

The Essays of Warren Buffett: Lessons for Corporate America (Second Edition)

The second edition of 'The Essays of Warren Buffett: Lessons for Corporate America' was released on April 14, 2008, further expanding on Buffett's principles.

2008-05-01

Publication of 'Even Buffett Isn't Perfect'

Vahan Janjigian's book 'Even Buffett Isn't Perfect: What You Can--and Can't--Learn from the World's Greatest Investor' was published by Penguin in May 2008.

2009-02

Buffett Sells Procter & Gamble Co. and Johnson & Johnson Shares

In February 2009, Warren Buffett sold some Procter & Gamble Co. and Johnson & Johnson shares from his personal portfolio.

2009-03

Buffett Comments on Economic Situation

In March 2009, Warren Buffett expressed concerns about the economy, stating that it had 'fallen off a cliff' and that people were changing their habits due to the economic slowdown.

2010-12-09

Gates-Buffett Giving Pledge

On December 9, 2010, Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, and Mark Zuckerberg signed the 'Gates-Buffett Giving Pledge', committing to donate at least half of their wealth to charity.

2011-03-18

Goldman Sachs Buys Back Berkshire's Preferred Stock

On March 18, 2011, Goldman Sachs received Federal Reserve approval to repurchase Berkshire Hathaway's preferred stock. Warren Buffett, reluctant to part with the stock that yielded significant dividends, humorously compared himself to Osama bin Laden in terms of elusiveness.

2012-04-11

Warren Buffett Diagnosed with Prostate Cancer

On April 11, 2012, Warren Buffett was diagnosed with stage I prostate cancer during a routine test. He underwent two months of daily radiation treatment starting from mid-July and expressed feeling great and healthy throughout the process.

2013-07-18

Sale of Press of Atlantic City to BH Media Group

On July 18, 2013, the Press of Atlantic City was sold to Buffett's BH Media Group by ABARTA. This acquisition was part of Buffett's strategy to invest in newspapers, aiming for a 10 percent annual return.

2014-08-14

Berkshire Hathaway's Shares Hit $200,000

On August 14, 2014, the price of Berkshire Hathaway's shares reached $200,000 per share for the first time, valuing the company at $328 billion. Warren Buffett still retained 321,000 shares worth $64.2 billion despite donating a significant portion to charities.

2015-12-16

Buffett endorses Hillary Clinton for president

On December 16, 2015, Warren Buffett publicly supported Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton in her presidential campaign.

2016-08-01

Buffett challenges Donald Trump on tax returns

On August 1, 2016, Warren Buffett called out Donald Trump to release his tax returns, adding to the political discourse.

2016-10-10

Buffett releases his tax return

Following a mention in the presidential debate, Warren Buffett made his tax return public, revealing his tax payments and donations.

2017

Buffett's Investment in Apple and Bank of America

In 2017, Warren Buffett changed his stance on technology companies and invested in Apple by purchasing 76.7 million shares. He also became the largest shareholder of Bank of America by trading warrants for 700 million shares. This move resulted in a significant investment gain of over $14.2 billion in just over six years.

2018-01

Buffett's skepticism towards Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies

During a CNBC interview in January 2018, Warren Buffett expressed skepticism towards Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, calling them 'rat poison squared' and warning that the craze over them would not end well.

2019

No Major Acquisitions by Berkshire Hathaway

In 2019, Berkshire Hathaway did not make any major acquisitions despite having the financial resources to do so. The company focused on other investments and did not engage in large-scale purchases.

2020

Buffett's criteria for judging President Trump

Warren Buffett stated that he would evaluate President Donald Trump based on national safety, economic growth, and economic participation before deciding on supporting him in the 2020 election.

2021-06-23

Warren Buffett Resigns as Trustee of Gates Foundation

On June 23, 2021, Warren Buffett announced his resignation as a trustee of the Gates Foundation, marking a significant shift from his previous statements regarding his fortune distribution.

2022-02-26

Warren Buffett's Annual Letter and Berkshire Hathaway Earnings

Warren Buffett's annual letter and Berkshire Hathaway earnings were discussed, highlighting key takeaways.

2023

ProPublica Allegation Against Warren Buffett

In 2023, a ProPublica article alleged that Warren Buffett engaged in equity trades in his personal portfolio involving companies that Berkshire Hathaway traded, raising concerns about conflicts of interest. Despite the allegations, Berkshire Hathaway's Vice Chairman defended Buffett.

End of the Timeline
Warren Buffett