Career Timeline of Warren Buffett: Major Achievements and Milestones

How Warren Buffett built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Warren Buffett is a highly successful American investor and philanthropist, serving as the chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. Renowned for his investment acumen, Buffett is globally recognized as one of the foremost investors. As of February 17, 2025, Forbes estimates his net worth at $149.6 billion, positioning him as the seventh wealthiest person worldwide.

Sections (7)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

1944: First Income Tax Return

In 1944, Warren Buffett filed his first income tax return, claiming a $35 deduction for his bicycle and watch used on his paper route.

1945: Pinball Machine Business

In 1945, Warren Buffett and a friend purchased a used pinball machine for $25 and started a business, eventually owning machines in three barber shops before selling the business to a war veteran for $1,200.

1951: Employment at Buffett-Falk & Co.

From 1951, Warren Buffett worked as an investment salesman at his father's firm, Buffett-Falk & Co.

1951: Discovery and Initial Investment in GEICO

In 1951, Warren Buffett discovered Benjamin Graham's involvement with GEICO insurance, leading him to visit GEICO's headquarters and meet Lorimer Davidson, resulting in Buffett's first purchase of GEICO stock.

1954: Employment at Graham-Newman Corp.

From 1954, Warren Buffett worked as a securities analyst at Graham-Newman Corp.

1954: Job at Benjamin Graham's Partnership

In 1954, Warren Buffett accepted a job at Benjamin Graham's partnership with a starting salary of $12,000 a year, working alongside Walter Schloss.

1956: General Partner in Investment Partnerships

From 1956, Warren Buffett worked as the general partner in several investment partnerships.

1956: Graham's Retirement and Buffett's Return to Omaha

In 1956, Benjamin Graham retired and closed his partnership, leading Warren Buffett, with savings over $174,000, to return to Omaha and start a series of investment partnerships.

1956: Creation of Buffett Partnership Ltd.

In 1956, Warren Buffett created Buffett Partnership Ltd. This entity would serve as one of his early investment vehicles.

1957: Operation of Investment Partnerships

In 1957, Warren Buffett operated three investment partnerships.

1958: Sanborn Stock Price

In 1958, Sanborn stock sold for $45 per share, but the company's investment portfolio was worth $65 per share.

1959: Introduction to Charlie Munger

In 1959, Warren Buffett was introduced to Charlie Munger, who would become his future partner, during a business luncheon at The Omaha Club.

1961: Investment in Sanborn Map Company

In 1961, Warren Buffett revealed that 35% of his partnership's assets were invested in the Sanborn Map Company, leading him to purchase 23% of the company's shares and secure a board seat.

1962: Buffett Becomes a Millionaire

In 1962, Warren Buffett became a millionaire due to the success of his partnerships, which held over $7,178,500. He merged his partnerships into Buffett Partnership, Ltd.

1965: Control of Berkshire Hathaway

In 1965, Warren Buffett's partnerships aggressively purchased shares of Berkshire Hathaway at $14.86 per share and he took control of the company, naming Ken Chace as president.

1966: Partnership Closed to New Money

In 1966, Warren Buffett closed his partnership to new money, later stating that the textile business had been his worst trade.

1967: First and Only Dividend Payout

In 1967, Berkshire Hathaway paid out its first and only dividend of 10 cents.

1969: End of Buffett's Investment Partnerships

In 1969, Warren Buffet ceased being a general partner in his investment partnerships.

1969: Liquidation of Partnership

In 1969, Warren Buffett liquidated his partnership, transferring assets to his partners, including shares of Berkshire Hathaway. He then lived on a $50,000 salary and outside investment income.

1970: Chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

From 1970, Warren Buffett has been the chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

1970: Chairman and Majority Shareholder of Berkshire Hathaway

In 1970, Warren Buffett became the chairman and majority shareholder of Berkshire Hathaway, transitioning it into a diversified holding company.

1970: Buffett as Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway

Since 1970, Warren Buffett has served as the chairman and largest shareholder of Berkshire Hathaway. This role has solidified his position as a leading figure in the business world.

1973: Acquisition of Washington Post Company Stock

In 1973, Berkshire Hathaway began acquiring stock in the Washington Post Company, leading to a friendship between Warren Buffett and Katharine Graham.

1974: SEC Investigation

In 1974, the SEC opened an investigation into Warren Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway's acquisition of Wesco Financial over possible conflict of interest, but no charges were brought.

1977: Purchase of Buffalo Evening News

In 1977, Berkshire Hathaway indirectly purchased the Buffalo Evening News for $32.5 million, leading to antitrust charges instigated by its rival, the Buffalo Courier-Express.

1977: Buffett's Statement on Stocks, Gold, Farmland and Inflation

In 1977, Warren Buffett gave a statement about stocks, gold, farmland and inflation.

1978: Charlie Munger Joins Berkshire Hathaway

In 1978, Charlie Munger joined Warren Buffett as vice-chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, beginning a long-time and successful business association.

1979: Acquisition of ABC Stock

In 1979, Berkshire Hathaway began acquiring stock in ABC.

1982: Closure of Buffalo Courier-Express

In 1982, the Buffalo Courier-Express folded after both it and the Buffalo Evening News experienced financial losses.

March 18, 1985: Capital Cities Purchase of ABC

On March 18, 1985, Capital Cities announced a $3.5 billion purchase of ABC. Warren Buffett helped finance the deal for a 25% stake in the combined company, Capital Cities/ABC.

1985: Sale of Berkshire Hathaway Mills

In 1985, the last of the mills that had been the core business of Berkshire Hathaway was sold, marking a shift away from the textile industry.

1987: Buffett Quoted During RJR Nabisco Takeover Fight

During the RJR Nabisco, Inc., hostile takeover fight in 1987, Warren Buffett was quoted as telling John Gutfreund something important.

1987: Purchase of Stake in Salomon Inc.

In 1987, Berkshire Hathaway purchased a 12% stake in Salomon Inc., making Warren Buffett the largest shareholder and a director.

1988: Investment in The Coca-Cola Company

In 1988, Warren Buffett began buying The Coca-Cola Company stock, eventually purchasing up to 7% of the company for $1.02 billion, marking one of Berkshire's most lucrative investments.

1989: Purchase of "The Indefensible" Jet

In 1989, Warren Buffett spent nearly $6.7 million of Berkshire's funds on a private jet, naming it "The Indefensible", later renamed "The Indispensable."

1990: Salomon Brothers Scandal

In 1990, a scandal surfaced involving John Gutfreund and Paul Mozer at Salomon Brothers.

August 1991: Gutfreund Leaves Salomon, Buffett Becomes Chairman

In August 1991, John Gutfreund left Salomon Brothers, and Warren Buffett became chairman until the crisis passed.

1994: Buffett's Statement on Tobacco Investments

Speaking at Berkshire Hathaway Inc.'s 1994 annual meeting, Buffett shared his views on investments in tobacco.

1998: Coca-Cola Peaked

In 1998, The Coca-Cola Company peaked at $86, raising questions about the wisdom in keeping some of Berkshire's major holdings, including The Coca-Cola Company.

1998: Acquisition of General Re

In 1998, Warren Buffett acquired General Re (Gen Re) as a subsidiary, but it presented challenges due to inadequate underwriting standards.

1998: Buffett's Critique of Gold as an Investment

In 1998, Warren Buffett addressed at Harvard and criticized gold as an investment, basing his critique on its non-productive nature.

November 1999: Warned of investors' unrealistic expectations

In his November 1999 Fortune article, Warren Buffett warned of investors' unrealistic expectations.

1999: Sale of Jet

Prior to mid-1999, Warren Buffett sold the private jet he had previously named "The Indefensible," and has since typically flown with Berkshire's flight services businesses.

2001: Ownership of Lincoln Town Car

In 2006, Warren Buffett auctioned his 2001 Lincoln Town Car on eBay to raise money for Girls, Inc., implying ownership of the car in 2001.

2002: Involvement with AIG

In 2002, Warren Buffett became involved with Maurice R. Greenberg at AIG, after which Gen Re provided reinsurance.

2002: Forward contracts

In 2002, Warren Buffett entered into $11 billion worth of forward contracts to deliver U.S. dollars against other currencies.

2002: Adviser to Nuclear Threat Initiative

In 2002, Warren Buffett pledged $50 million to the Nuclear Threat Initiative in Washington, where he began serving as an adviser.

2002: Buffett Enters Foreign Currency Market

In 2002, the trade deficit prompted Warren Buffett to enter the foreign currency market for the first time.

2003: Financial Advisor to Arnold Schwarzenegger

In 2003, Warren Buffett served as a financial advisor to Republican candidate Arnold Schwarzenegger during the California gubernatorial election.

2004: Buffett Lambasts Stock Option Compensation Bill

At the 2004 annual meeting, Warren Buffett criticized a bill before the United States Congress regarding company-issued stock options compensation, comparing it to a legislative attempt to change the value of Pi.

2004: Estate of Wife to Buffett Foundation

In 2004, the bulk of the estate of Warren Buffett's wife, valued at $2.6 billion, went to the Buffett Foundation after her death.

2004: Difficulties of knowing when to sell

In the company's 2004 annual report, Buffett discussed the difficulties of knowing when to sell, a topic relevant to Berkshire's major holdings.

March 15, 2005: Greenberg Resigns from AIG

On March 15, 2005, Maurice R. Greenberg was forced to resign from his position as chairman and CEO of AIG after New York state regulators claimed that AIG had engaged in questionable transactions and improper accounting.

2005: Buffett Reduces Stake in Currency Market

In 2005, Warren Buffett substantially reduced his stake in the foreign currency market as changing interest rates increased the costs of holding currency contracts. Buffett remained bearish on the dollar and looked to acquire companies with foreign revenues.

February 9, 2006: AIG Pays Fine

On February 9, 2006, AIG agreed to pay a $1.6 billion fine following investigations into accounting fraud.

April 2006: Gain on currency contracts

By April 2006, Warren Buffett's total gain on forward contracts to deliver U.S. dollars against other currencies was over $2 billion.

June 2006: Announcement of Charitable Giving Plan

In June 2006, Warren Buffett announced a new plan to give 83% of his fortune to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF).

June 2006: Giving away Berkshire holdings

In June 2006, Warren Buffett announced that he would gradually give away 85% of his Berkshire holdings to five foundations in annual gifts of stock, with the largest contribution going to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

June 23, 2006: Pledge to Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

On June 23, 2006, Warren Buffett pledged the equivalent of 10 million Berkshire Hathaway Class B shares, worth approximately $30.7 billion, to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, making it the largest charitable donation in history.

July 2006: Start of giving away Berkshire holdings

In July 2006, Warren Buffett began giving away 85% of his Berkshire holdings to five foundations in annual gifts of stock.

2006: Auction of Lincoln Town Car

In 2006, Warren Buffett auctioned his 2001 Lincoln Town Car on eBay to raise money for Girls, Inc.

2007: PacifiCorp Cancels Coal-Fired Power Plants

In 2007, Buffett's PacifiCorp, a subsidiary of his MidAmerican Energy Company, canceled six proposed coal-fired power plants due to pressure from regulators and citizen groups.

2007: Looking for a successor

In 2007, Warren Buffett announced in a letter to shareholders that he was looking for a younger successor, or perhaps successors, to run his investment business.

2007: Auctioned Luncheon for Glide Foundation

In 2007, Warren Buffett auctioned a luncheon with himself, raising $650,100 for the Glide Foundation.

2007: Criticism during subprime mortgage crisis

In 2007, Warren Buffett faced criticism during the subprime mortgage crisis, part of the Great Recession, for allocating capital too early, resulting in suboptimal deals.

2007: Bet with managers

In 2007, Warren Buffett made a bet with numerous managers that a simple S&P 500 index fund would outperform hedge funds that charge exorbitant fees.

2007: Buffett Testifies Before Senate on Estate Tax

In 2007, Warren Buffett testified before the Senate, advocating for the preservation of the estate tax to prevent the rise of a plutocracy. Some critics argued that Berkshire Hathaway had a vested interest in the continuation of the estate tax. Buffett also stated that government should not be legalizing casinos in 2007.

September 23, 2008: Acquisition of Goldman Sachs stock

On September 23, 2008, Berkshire Hathaway acquired 10 percent of perpetual preferred stock of Goldman Sachs. Also in 2008, Berkshire Hathaway provided $3 billion for Dow Chemical's takeover of Rohm & Haas, becoming the single largest shareholder in the enlarged group.

October 2008: Agreement to buy General Electric (GE) preferred stock

In October 2008, Warren Buffett agreed to buy General Electric (GE) preferred stock, receiving an option to buy three billion shares of GE stock at $22.25 over the five years following the agreement, and also receiving a 10% dividend.

October 2008: Buffett Invests in BYD Company

In October 2008, Warren Buffett invested $230 million for 10% of battery maker BYD Company, which runs a subsidiary of electric automobile manufacturer BYD Auto. This investment reaped over 500% return in less than a year. Previously in 2008, Buffett sold his stake in PetroChina Company Limited.

2008: Richest person in the world

In 2008, Warren Buffett became the richest person in the world, with a net worth estimated at $62 billion by Forbes and $58 billion by Yahoo, surpassing Bill Gates.

2008: "Buy American. I am."

In 2008, Warren Buffett wrote "Buy American. I am." for an opinion piece published in the New York Times. Also, Buffett called the downturn in the financial sector that started in 2007 "poetic justice".

2008: Total Compensation

In 2008, Warren Buffett's total compensation was $175,000, including a base salary of $100,000.

February 2009: Selling shares from personal portfolio

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

March 2009: Comments on the economy

In March 2009, Warren Buffett said in a cable television interview that the economy had "fallen off a cliff" and people had really changed their habits. He also feared that inflation levels that occurred in the 1970s might re-emerge.

June 2009: Berkshire Hathaway corporation size

As of June 2009, Berkshire Hathaway was the eighteenth largest corporation in the world, measured by market capitalization in the Financial Times Global 500.

2009: Gates regained top spot on Forbes list

In 2009, Bill Gates regained the top position on the Forbes list, with Warren Buffett shifting to second place. Buffett's net worth dropped to $37 billion.

2009: Divestment from ConocoPhillips

In 2009, Warren Buffett divested his failed investment in ConocoPhillips, saying to his Berkshire investors.

2009: Meeting with Billionaires

In 2009, Warren Buffett met with other billionaires to discuss healthcare, education, and slowing population growth.

2009: Ranked Second Richest Man in the United States

In 2009, after donating billions to charity, Warren Buffett was ranked as the second richest man in the United States, with a net worth of $37 billion.

2009: Views on the US Medical Industry

Warren Buffett cited Atul Gawande's 2009 article in the New Yorker as a useful consideration of US health care.

June 2010: Buffett defended the credit-rating agencies

In June 2010, Buffett defended the credit-rating agencies for their role in the US financial crisis.

December 9, 2010: Gates-Buffett Giving Pledge

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

2010: Founding of the Giving Pledge

In 2010, Warren Buffett and Bill Gates founded the Giving Pledge, encouraging billionaires to donate at least half of their wealth to philanthropic causes.

2010: Views on US Healthcare Costs

In 2010, Warren Buffett said that it was not sustainable for the U.S. to devote 17% of its GDP to healthcare expenditure, noting that many other nations spent a much smaller proportion of their GDP on health expenditures, with better healthcare outcomes.

2010: Settlement with Gen Re

In 2010, the U.S. government agreed to a $92 million settlement with Gen Re, allowing the Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary to avoid prosecution in the AIG case. Gen Re also made corporate governance concessions.

March 18, 2011: Goldman Sachs buy back

On March 18, 2011, Goldman Sachs was given Federal Reserve approval to buy back Berkshire's preferred stock in Goldman.

November 2011: Investment in IBM stock

In November 2011, Warren Buffett bought 64 million shares of International Business Machine Corp (IBM) stock, worth around $11 billion, raising his stake in the company to around 5.5 percent.

2011: Acquisition of Omaha World Herald

In 2011, Warren Buffett's company acquired the Omaha World Herald, a newspaper he reads daily.

May 2012: Buffett on Avoiding Tech Stocks and IPOs

In May 2012, Warren Buffett stated he avoided buying stock in high-technology companies like Facebook and Google due to their complexity and difficulty in estimating their future value. He also advised that initial public offerings (IPOs) of new stock issues are almost always bad investments.

May 2012: Acquisition of Media General

In May 2012, Warren Buffett's acquisition of Media General, consisting of 63 newspapers in the south-eastern U.S., was announced.

May 2013: Berkshire shareholders meeting

At the Berkshire shareholders meeting in May 2013, Warren Buffett explained that he did not expect to "move the needle" at Berkshire with newspaper acquisitions, but he anticipates an annual return of 10 percent.

July 18, 2013: Sale of the Press of Atlantic City

On July 18, 2013, Interim publisher James W. Hopson announced that the Press of Atlantic City would be sold to Buffett's BH Media Group by ABARTA.

September 2013: Net Worth Update

As of September 2013, Warren Buffett's net worth had risen to $58.5 billion.

September 2013: Presentation to Georgetown University students

In late September 2013, during a presentation to Georgetown University students, Warren Buffett compared the U.S. Federal Reserve to a hedge fund and advocated further on the issue of wealth equality in society.

December 9, 2013: Purchase of shares in USG Corporation

On December 9, 2013, Berkshire Hathaway purchased shares in USG Corporation, which they failed to report in time.

August 14, 2014: Berkshire Hathaway shares hit $200,000

On August 14, 2014, the price of Berkshire Hathaway's shares hit $200,000 a share for the first time, capitalizing the company at $328 billion.

August 20, 2014: Fine for failing to report USG Corporation shares purchase

On August 20, 2014, Berkshire Hathaway was fined $896,000 for failing to report as required the December 9, 2013 purchase of shares in USG Corporation.

2017: Index fund outperforming hedge funds

By 2017, the index fund was outperforming every hedge fund that made the bet against Warren Buffett.

January 2018: Buffett on Bitcoin

In January 2018, Warren Buffett told CNBC that the craze over Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies won't end well, later calling it "rat poison squared." However, he also mentioned he would not take a short position on bitcoin futures.

2018: Ranked 3rd in Forbes' List of Billionaires

In 2018, after making almost $3.4 billion in donations, Warren Buffett was ranked 3rd in the Forbes' List of Billionaires.

June 2021: Buffett on Economic Inequality and COVID-19

In a June 2021 interview with CNBC, Warren Buffett stated that the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic increased economic inequality, noting the negative impact on small businesses. He also said that the markets and the economy would likely be unpredictable well into the post-pandemic recovery period.