Warren Edward Buffett was born on August 30, 1930, in Omaha, Nebraska, United States. He was the second of three children and the only son of Howard Buffett and Leila Stahl Buffett. His father was a stockbroker and businessman who later served as a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives. From an early age, Warren showed an unusual interest in numbers, business and investing, qualities that would eventually shape his extraordinary career.
Buffett’s interest in making money began during childhood. He sold chewing gum, Coca-Cola and magazines and also worked in his grandfather’s grocery store. At age 11, he bought his first shares of stock, beginning a lifelong relationship with the financial markets. His entrepreneurial instincts also appeared in high school, when he and a friend bought a used pinball machine for $25 and built a small business by placing machines in local barbershops. They eventually sold the business for $1,200.
After his family moved to Washington, D.C., following his father’s election to Congress, Buffett continued developing his interest in business and investing. He delivered newspapers, saved money and invested some of his earnings. By his teenage years, he had already accumulated meaningful savings and had purchased an interest in a Nebraska farm. His early experiences with saving, compounding and business ownership became foundations for the investment philosophy that later made him known worldwide as the “Oracle of Omaha.”
Warren Buffett Education
Warren Buffett attended Rose Hill Elementary School in Omaha before moving to Washington, D.C., where he attended Alice Deal Junior High School and graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1947. His high-school yearbook reportedly described him as someone who liked mathematics and suggested that he might become a stockbroker. By graduation, Buffett had already developed considerable experience in small businesses and investing.
At age 17, Buffett enrolled at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania to study business. He spent two years there before transferring to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he completed his bachelor’s degree in business administration. He graduated at age 20, already possessing substantial savings from his early business activities and investments.
Buffett later attended Columbia University, where he earned a master’s degree in economics in 1951. The most important influence of his graduate education was his relationship with professor Benjamin Graham, the pioneer of value investing. Graham’s ideas about purchasing securities for less than their intrinsic value became central to Buffett’s investment philosophy. Buffett also studied at the New York Institute of Finance, further strengthening his understanding of economics and financial markets.
Warren Buffett Career
Warren Buffett began his professional investment career in the early 1950s, working for Buffett-Falk & Company and later joining Benjamin Graham’s investment firm, Graham-Newman Corp. Working under Graham gave Buffett practical experience with value investing and helped refine his approach to analyzing businesses, financial statements and stock prices.
In 1956, Buffett returned to Omaha and established Buffett Partnership Ltd. He managed money for a group of investors and achieved strong results through a disciplined approach to identifying undervalued businesses. His reputation as an investor grew rapidly, and he eventually turned his attention to Berkshire Hathaway, a struggling textile company.
Buffett began accumulating Berkshire Hathaway stock in the 1960s and ultimately took control of the company. Instead of continuing to focus on textiles, he transformed Berkshire into a diversified holding company with interests in insurance, railroads, energy, manufacturing, retail and consumer businesses, while also building a large portfolio of publicly traded companies.
Under Buffett’s leadership, Berkshire Hathaway became one of the world’s largest conglomerates. Investments and ownership positions involving companies such as GEICO, Coca-Cola, American Express, BNSF Railway and Dairy Queen helped establish Berkshire’s reputation for long-term ownership and decentralized management. Harvard Business School notes that Berkshire’s stock price rose dramatically under Buffett’s leadership and that his investment decisions helped establish his reputation as one of America’s most successful investors.
Buffett remained Berkshire Hathaway’s CEO until the end of 2025, when Greg Abel took over the position. In September 2026, Buffett completed another major step in the succession process by stepping down as Berkshire’s chairman. He became chairman emeritus and remained a director, while his son Howard G. Buffett became chairman of the board.
As of October 2026, Buffett continues to have a connection with Berkshire Hathaway as chairman emeritus and director. Greg Abel runs the company as CEO, while Howard Buffett serves as chairman. The transition represents the culmination of a succession plan developed during Buffett’s later years at the company.
Warren Buffett Personal Life and Family
Warren Buffett married Susan Thompson in 1952. The couple had three children: Susan Alice Buffett, commonly known as Susie; Howard Graham Buffett; and Peter Buffett. Although Warren and Susan later lived separately, they remained married until Susan’s death in 2004. Their children have pursued their own careers, including philanthropy, farming, conservation, music and public service.
After Susan’s death, Buffett married his longtime companion, Astrid Menks, in 2006. Menks had been part of Buffett’s personal life for many years and has generally maintained a private public profile. Buffett has remained closely associated with Omaha, where he has lived for decades in the house he purchased in 1958.
Family has also become increasingly important to Berkshire Hathaway’s succession story. Howard Buffett has served on Berkshire’s board since 1993 and became chairman in September 2026 after his father’s retirement from the chairmanship. Warren Buffett has said that Greg Abel is responsible for running Berkshire while Howard’s role is to help safeguard the company’s culture and values.
Warren Buffett Age, Religion, Nationality, Height and Physical Appearance
Warren Buffett is 96 years old as of October 2026, having been born on August 30, 1930. He is American by nationality and was born in Omaha, Nebraska. Buffett is widely reported to be approximately 5 feet 10 inches (1.78 meters) tall. He has gray hair and is recognizable for his glasses, formal suits and understated personal style. Religiously, Buffett has publicly described himself as agnostic; he was raised in a religious household but has said that he does not know whether God exists.
Warren Buffett Social Media Presence
Warren Buffett has maintained a relatively limited personal presence on social media compared with many modern billionaires. His well-known X account is @WarrenBuffett, although Buffett has historically been far less active online than many other prominent business figures. There is no reliably verified official Warren Buffett Instagram handle that should be presented as his personal account. In fact, Buffett previously said that he did not know how to get onto Instagram after fraudulent social-media accounts used his identity. Therefore, Instagram accounts such as @warrenbuffett.0fficial should not automatically be treated as Buffett’s official account.
Warren Buffett Net Worth
Warren Buffett’s net worth is primarily connected to his ownership of Berkshire Hathaway stock and the enormous appreciation of the company over decades. Forbes’ real-time profile placed his fortune at approximately $146.4 billion in September 2026, while Forbes’ real-time billionaire rankings have placed him around the world’s top 10 richest people. Because his wealth is heavily tied to publicly traded Berkshire shares, the figure can change significantly with the stock market.
Interestingly, Buffett’s enormous fortune did not come from an unusually large executive salary. Berkshire Hathaway’s latest SEC filing shows that his annual base salary was $100,000 in 2025, with no bonus or equity-based compensation. His total reported compensation for that year was $389,488 after other compensation was included. Berkshire has stated that Buffett’s $100,000 annual salary had remained unchanged for more than 40 years.
The overwhelming source of Buffett’s wealth has therefore been his long-term ownership and investment in Berkshire Hathaway rather than his salary. His philosophy of retaining earnings, acquiring strong businesses and allowing capital to compound helped turn Berkshire into a company valued at more than $1 trillion. Buffett has also committed to giving away the vast majority of his wealth. In July 2026, he donated about $6 billion in Berkshire shares to four family foundations and said his remaining Berkshire shares are intended to be donated to charity by the end of 2034.
Legacy
Warren Buffett’s greatest legacy is his transformation of Berkshire Hathaway from a struggling textile manufacturer into a diversified global conglomerate. His approach emphasized buying understandable businesses with durable competitive advantages, trustworthy management and attractive long-term economics. Rather than concentrating on short-term market movements, Buffett became famous for patient ownership and disciplined capital allocation.
His investment philosophy has influenced generations of investors. The principles associated with Buffett and Benjamin Graham—value, patience, rationality, financial discipline and long-term compounding—remain central to investment education around the world. Buffett has also repeatedly encouraged ordinary investors to avoid unnecessary complexity and focus on low-cost, long-term investing. His public shareholder letters and Berkshire Hathaway annual meetings have become important sources of investment wisdom.
Buffett’s philanthropic legacy is equally significant. He has pledged to give away more than 99% of his wealth and has donated tens of billions of dollars to charitable causes through the Gates Foundation and family foundations. He also helped establish the Giving Pledge with Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates, encouraging wealthy individuals to commit at least half of their fortunes to philanthropy. His 2026 charitable commitments further demonstrate that the distribution of his wealth is intended to extend beyond his lifetime.
Conclusion
Warren Buffett’s biography is a story of patience, disciplined investing, entrepreneurship and philanthropy. From a young boy in Omaha who bought his first stock at 11 to the investor who transformed Berkshire Hathaway into a global conglomerate, Buffett built his reputation around long-term thinking and careful capital allocation. At 96, his 2026 transition to chairman emeritus marks the end of his active leadership of Berkshire Hathaway, but his influence remains deeply connected to the company, the investment world and charitable causes. With Greg Abel leading Berkshire and Howard Buffett protecting its culture as chairman, Warren Buffett’s next chapter is centered increasingly on his legacy, philanthropy and the enduring principles that made him one of the world’s most recognizable investors.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Warren Buffett?
Warren Buffett is 96 years old as of October 2026. He was born on August 30, 1930, in Omaha, Nebraska.
Who is Warren Buffett’s wife?
Warren Buffett’s current wife is Astrid Menks, whom he married in 2006. His first wife, Susan Thompson Buffett, died in 2004.
How many children does Warren Buffett have?
Warren Buffett has three children: Susan Alice Buffett, Howard Graham Buffett and Peter Buffett.
What is Warren Buffett’s net worth?
Warren Buffett’s net worth is estimated at approximately $146 billion, although the amount fluctuates with the value of Berkshire Hathaway shares and other assets.
What is Warren Buffett’s height?
Warren Buffett is widely reported to be approximately 5 feet 10 inches (1.78 meters) tall.
What is Warren Buffett’s religion?
Warren Buffett has publicly described himself as agnostic. He was raised in a religious household but has said that he does not know whether God exists.
Where did Warren Buffett go to college?
Buffett attended the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School before transferring to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he completed his bachelor’s degree. He later earned a master’s degree in economics from Columbia University.
Who replaced Warren Buffett at Berkshire Hathaway?
Greg Abel became Berkshire Hathaway’s CEO at the beginning of 2026. In September 2026, Howard G. Buffett became chairman after Warren Buffett stepped down and became chairman emeritus.
Is Warren Buffett still involved with Berkshire Hathaway?
Yes. Warren Buffett is still a director and chairman emeritus of Berkshire Hathaway after stepping down as chairman in September 2026. He continues to provide his judgment and perspective to the company.
Does Warren Buffett have an official Instagram account?
There is no reliably verified official personal Instagram account for Warren Buffett that should be treated as authentic. Several accounts use his name, but Buffett has previously warned about fraudulent social-media accounts using his identity.
What is Warren Buffett famous for?
Warren Buffett is famous for building Berkshire Hathaway, becoming one of the world’s most successful long-term investors, popularizing value-investing principles and becoming a major philanthropist. He is widely known as the Oracle of Omaha.
What happened to Warren Buffett in 2026?
In 2026, Warren Buffett completed his transition away from Berkshire Hathaway’s active leadership. Greg Abel became CEO at the beginning of the year, and on September 18, Buffett stepped down as chairman and became chairman emeritus. His son Howard Buffett became chairman while Warren remained on the board.
What is Warren Buffett’s salary?
Berkshire Hathaway reported Warren Buffett’s 2025 base salary as $100,000, with no bonus or equity-based compensation. His wealth comes overwhelmingly from his investments and Berkshire Hathaway ownership rather than his salary.
Does Warren Buffett still live in Omaha?
Yes. Buffett has remained closely associated with Omaha, Nebraska, and continues to live in the house he purchased there in 1958.
What is Warren Buffett’s investment philosophy?
Buffett’s investment philosophy emphasizes buying understandable, high-quality businesses at sensible prices and holding them for the long term. He has also advocated low-cost index funds for ordinary investors who do not want to select individual stocks.
How much of Warren Buffett’s wealth will go to charity?
Buffett has pledged to donate more than 99% of his wealth. In 2026, he said his remaining Berkshire Hathaway shares are intended to be donated to charity by the end of 2034.
What is Warren Buffett’s legacy?
Warren Buffett’s legacy includes transforming Berkshire Hathaway, popularizing disciplined long-term value investing, influencing generations of investors and committing most of his enormous fortune to philanthropy. His succession in 2026 also marks an important new chapter for Berkshire Hathaway.
Conclusion
Warren Buffett’s biography is a story of patience, disciplined investing, entrepreneurship and philanthropy. From a young boy in Omaha who bought his first stock at 11 to the investor who transformed Berkshire Hathaway into a global conglomerate, Buffett built his reputation around long-term thinking and careful capital allocation. At 96, his 2026 transition to chairman emeritus marks the end of his active leadership of Berkshire Hathaway, but his influence remains deeply connected to the company, the investment world and charitable causes. With Greg Abel leading Berkshire and Howard Buffett protecting its culture as chairman, Warren Buffett’s next chapter is centered increasingly on his legacy, philanthropy and the enduring principles that made him one of the world’s most recognizable investors.