Warren Buffett.
Warren Buffett's life's work is an extraordinary success story, spanning from humble beginnings in Omaha to his career as one of the greatest investors of all time. Now, he has turned 95 years old. Born in 1930, he demonstrated entrepreneurial talent even as a child – from selling soft drinks to trading stocks. Influenced by his father and his studies under Benjamin Graham, he early on developed the principles of value investing that would guide his actions throughout his life.
In 1956, he founded Buffett Partnership Ltd. and took over the textile company Berkshire Hathaway in 1965, transforming it into a multibillion-dollar investment holding. With strategies like the »margin of safety« and a focus on the intrinsic value of companies rather than short-term market fluctuations, he achieved legendary returns. Investments in companies like Coca-Cola, Apple, or American Express became milestones, even if not all decisions – such as the acquisition of Dexter Shoe Company – were successful.
Yet Buffett is more than just a successful investor: his humility, long-term thinking, and partnership with Charlie Munger shaped his philosophy, as did his sense of moral responsibility. In 2006, he announced that he would donate the majority of his wealth, primarily through the Gates Foundation, and initiated the »Giving Pledge«, a movement encouraging billionaires to commit to major philanthropic contributions.
With his announced retirement as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway at the end of 2025, an era is coming to a close. His successor, Greg Abel, will take on the task of continuing Buffett’s legacy. Yet the principles of the »Oracle of Omaha« – integrity, foresight, and a belief in sustainable business practices – will continue to inspire in the future. And for the rest? As he famously said: »Rule No. 1: Never lose money. Rule No. 2: Never forget rule No. 1.«
MK
