Early Life and Education of Warren Buffett: A Complete Timeline

Discover the defining moments in the early life of Warren Buffett. From birth to education, explore key events.

Warren Buffett, a highly successful American investor and philanthropist, is renowned as the chairman and former CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. His investment acumen has made him one of the world's most recognized investors. As of January 2026, his estimated net worth of $148.9 billion ranks him among the wealthiest individuals globally.

Sections (7)

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

August 30, 1930: Warren Buffett's birth

On August 30, 1930, Warren Edward Buffett was born. He is an American investor and philanthropist, and the chairman and former CEO of Berkshire Hathaway.

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August 30, 1930: Warren Buffett Born in Omaha, Nebraska

Warren Buffett was born on August 30, 1930, in Omaha, Nebraska, the son of Congressman Howard Buffett and his wife, Leila Buffett.

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1942: Father Elected to Congress

In 1942, Warren Buffett's father, Howard Buffett, was elected to the United States Congress, leading the family to move to Washington, D.C.

1944: First Income Tax Return

In 1944, Warren Buffett filed his first income tax return and took a $35 deduction for the use of his bicycle and watch on his paper route.

1945: Purchased Pinball Machine

In 1945, Warren Buffett and a friend spent $25 to purchase a used pinball machine, placing it in a local barber shop and expanding to multiple locations.

1947: Sold Pinball Business

In 1947, Warren Buffett and his friend sold their pinball machine business to a war veteran for $1,200.

1947: Matriculated at the Wharton School

In 1947, Warren Buffett enrolled at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, before transferring to the University of Nebraska.

1947: Enrolled in Wharton School

In 1947, Warren Buffett entered the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, showcasing his early interest in business, before later graduating from the University of Nebraska and Columbia Business School.

1947: Graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School

In 1947, Warren Buffett graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School, where his senior yearbook mentioned his interest in math and future as a stockbroker.

1949: Ukulele Purchase

In 1949, Warren Buffett bought a ukulele to impress a young woman, which ultimately led to his lifelong interest in the instrument and later played a part in his marriage to Susan Thompson.

1950: Rejected by Harvard Business School

In the spring of 1950, Warren Buffett was rejected by Harvard Business School, which led him to enroll at Columbia Business School.

1951: First GEICO stock purchase

In 1951, Warren Buffett discovered that Graham was on the board of GEICO insurance and after meeting Lorimer Davidson, GEICO's vice president, Buffett made his first purchase of GEICO stock.

1951: Graduated from Columbia Business School

In 1951, Warren Buffett graduated from Columbia Business School with a Master of Science in Economics, influenced by Benjamin Graham's teachings.

1952: Marriage to Susan Thompson

In 1952, Warren Buffett married Susan Thompson at Dundee Presbyterian Church.

1954: Accepted 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.

1954: Birth of Son Howard

In 1954, Warren Buffett and Susan Thompson had their second child, a son named Howard.

1956: Benjamin Graham retired and closed his partnership

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

1956: Created Buffett Partnership Ltd.

In 1956, Warren Buffett created Buffett Partnership Ltd., marking a significant step in his investment career.

1957: Operated three investment partnerships

In 1957, Warren Buffett operated three investment partnerships, marking the beginning of his independent investment ventures.

1958: Birth of Son Peter

In 1958, Warren Buffett and Susan Thompson had their third child, a son named Peter.

1958: Purchase of Omaha Home

In 1958, Warren Buffett purchased a five-bedroom stucco house in Omaha for US$31,500, where he still resides.

1961: Invested in Sanborn Map Company

In 1961, Warren Buffett revealed that 35% of the partnership's assets were invested in the Sanborn Map Company, recognizing its undervalued stock.

1962: Became a millionaire

In 1962, Warren Buffett became a millionaire due to the success of his partnerships, which held nearly $7.2 million, with more than $1,025,000 belonging to Buffett.

1965: Berkshire Hathaway share purchase

In 1965, Warren Buffett's partnerships began aggressively purchasing Berkshire Hathaway shares at $14.86 per share.

1969: Liquidated the partnership

In 1969, Warren Buffett liquidated his partnership and transferred assets to his partners, living solely on his salary and outside investment income.

1969: Membership in Highland Club

In 1969, after purchasing the Omaha Sun, Warren Buffett became the first non-Jewish member of Omaha's Highland Club to promote nondiscrimination.

1970: Buffett became chairman and majority shareholder of Berkshire Hathaway

In 1970, Warren Buffett became the chairman and majority shareholder of Berkshire Hathaway, solidifying his control over the company.

1971: Purchase of Vacation Home

In 1971, Warren Buffett purchased a vacation home in Laguna Beach, California, for $150,000.

1973: Began to acquire stock in the Washington Post Company

In 1973, Berkshire Hathaway began acquiring stock in the Washington Post Company, marking the beginning of Buffett's involvement with the media company.

1974: SEC investigation

In 1974, the SEC opened a formal investigation into Warren Buffett and Berkshire's acquisition of Wesco Financial, although no charges were brought.

1977: Purchased the Buffalo Evening News

In 1977, Berkshire Hathaway indirectly purchased the Buffalo Evening News for $32.5 million, leading to antitrust charges.

1977: Susan's departure to San Francisco

In 1977, Susan Buffett departed for San Francisco to pursue her singing career, leading to Astrid Menks living with Warren Buffett.

1977: Separation from Susan Thompson

In 1977, Warren Buffett and his wife Susan began living separately, though they remained married.

1979: Berkshire acquired stock in ABC

In 1979, Berkshire Hathaway began to acquire stock in ABC, setting the stage for a major media deal.

1982: The Courier-Express folded

In 1982, the Buffalo Courier-Express, a rival of the Buffalo Evening News, folded after both papers lost money.

March 18, 1985: Capital Cities purchased ABC

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

1989: Purchase of Private Jet

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

1999: Sale of Private Jet

Prior to mid-1999, Warren Buffett sold the private jet he had previously purchased and began using Berkshire's flight services.

July 2004: Death of Susan Buffett

In July 2004, Susan Buffett, Warren Buffett's wife, passed away.

December 2006: Tech Habits

In December 2006, it was reported that Warren Buffett did not carry a mobile phone, did not have a computer at his desk, and drove his own automobile.

2006: Disowning Nicole Buffett

In 2006, Warren Buffett disowned his son Peter's adopted daughter, Nicole, after she participated in a documentary about economic inequality.

2006: Sponsorship of Buffett Cup

In 2006, Warren Buffett sponsored a bridge match called the Buffett Cup, modeled on the Ryder Cup in golf.

2006: Comments on Tax Fairness

In 2006, Warren Buffett stated he paid 19% of his income in federal taxes ($48.1 million), while his employees paid 33%. Buffett expressed his view that the rich class is winning the class warfare.

2006: Marriage to Astrid Menks

In 2006, on his 76th birthday, Warren Buffett married his longtime companion, Astrid Menks.

2007: Support for Bo Pelini Hire

Following the 2007 season, Warren Buffett supported the hire of Bo Pelini as the Nebraska football coach.

2007: Testimony on Inheritance Tax

In 2007, Warren Buffett testified before the Senate, urging them to preserve the estate tax to avoid a plutocracy. Buffett also believes government should not be in the business of gambling.

July 2, 2008: Fundraiser for Barack Obama's Campaign

On July 2, 2008, Warren Buffett attended a $28,500 per plate fundraiser in Chicago for Barack Obama's presidential campaign. Buffett expressed his stark disagreement with John McCain's views on social justice, suggesting a significant ideological gap.

2009: Only the Super Rich Can Save Us

In 2009, Ralph Nader wrote the book "Only the Super Rich Can Save Us", a novel featuring Warren Buffett as a leader of a movement of billionaires using their fortunes to clean up America. Buffett invited Nader to breakfast after the book was released.

"Only the Super-Rich Can Save Us!"

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2009: Views on Healthcare Incentives

In 2009, Warren Buffett highlighted the problematic incentives within the U.S. medical industry. He stated that the fee-for-service model encourages unnecessary care and overutilization. Buffett cited Atul Gawande's article in The New Yorker as a useful consideration of U.S. health care.

2009: Meeting with Billionaires Regarding Global Issues

In 2009, Warren Buffett met with other billionaires to discuss healthcare, education, and slowing population growth. This group, dubbed "The Good Club," included Oprah Winfrey, Michael Bloomberg, and David Rockefeller, Jr., and collectively donated $45 billion to philanthropic causes. Warren Buffett also supports family planning.

2009: Honorary Assistant Coach

In 2009, Warren Buffett was named an honorary assistant coach and watched the game against Oklahoma from the Nebraska sideline. He was also elected to the American Philosophical Society in 2009.

2010: Views on Healthcare Costs

In 2010, Warren Buffett expressed concerns about the sustainability of U.S. healthcare costs, stating that the U.S. devoting 17% of its GDP to healthcare was unsustainable. He compared healthcare costs to a tapeworm compromising U.S. economic competitiveness and indicated that while the US offers the highest end procedures, other countries deliver better healthcare outcomes with a smaller GDP proportion.

2010: The Giving Pledge Founded

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

April 11, 2012: Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer

On April 11, 2012, Warren Buffett was diagnosed with stage I prostate cancer during a routine test and announced he would begin radiation treatment.

September 15, 2012: Completion of Radiation Treatment

On September 15, 2012, Warren Buffett announced that he had completed his 44-day radiation treatment cycle.

2013: Use of Nokia Flip Phone

In 2013, Warren Buffett used an old Nokia flip phone and had sent only one email in his entire life.

December 16, 2015: Endorsement of Hillary Clinton

On December 16, 2015, Warren Buffett publicly endorsed Hillary Clinton for president, signaling his support for her candidacy.

2015: Appearance on Entourage

In 2015, Warren Buffett made a cameo appearance on the TV program "Entourage".

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August 1, 2016: Challenge to Donald Trump

On August 1, 2016, Warren Buffett challenged Donald Trump to release his tax returns, escalating the public discussion around Trump's financial transparency.

October 10, 2016: Release of Tax Return

On October 10, 2016, after being referenced in a presidential debate, Warren Buffett released his own tax return, revealing he paid $1.85 million in federal income taxes in 2015 on an adjusted gross income of $11.6 million. He also disclosed over $2.8 billion in donations.

April 2017: Likeness on Cherry Coke Products

In April 2017, Warren Buffett agreed to have his likeness placed on Cherry Coke products in China without compensation.

2018: Use of Google Search Engine

At the 2018 Berkshire Hathaway shareholder meeting, Warren Buffett stated he uses Google as his preferred search engine.

2018: Sale of Vacation Home

In 2018, Warren Buffett sold his vacation home in Laguna Beach, California, for $7.5 million.

February 2020: Switch to iPhone 11

In February 2020, Warren Buffett revealed in a CNBC interview that he had traded in his flip phone for an iPhone 11.

Apple iPhone 11, 64GB, Black - Unlocked (Renewed)

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2022: Reconciliation with Nicole Buffett

By 2022, Warren Buffett and his son Peter's adopted daughter, Nicole, had reconciled.

September 2023: Death of Jimmy Buffett

In September 2023, singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett, a longtime friend of Warren Buffett, passed away. The two would often refer to one another as "Uncle Warren" and "Cousin Jimmy".