History of Warren Buffett in Timeline
Warren Buffett, the chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, is a highly successful American investor and philanthropist. Renowned for his investment acumen, he is one of the world's most well-known investors. With an estimated net worth of $154.4 billion as of April 5, 2025, Buffett ranks among the wealthiest individuals globally.
August 30, 1930: Warren Buffett Born
On August 30, 1930, Warren Edward Buffett was born. He is an American investor, philanthropist, and the chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway.
1942: Father elected to Congress
In 1942, Warren Buffett's father was elected to the first of four terms in the United States Congress, prompting the family to move to Washington, D.C.
1944: Took Deduction on Income Tax Return
In 1944, Warren Buffett took a $35 deduction on his first income tax return for the use of his bicycle and watch on his paper route.
1945: Pinball Machine Business
In 1945, Warren Buffett and a friend purchased a used pinball machine and placed it in a local barber shop, later expanding to several machines in different locations before selling the business for $1,200.
1947: Matriculated at Wharton School
In 1947, Warren Buffett began studies at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
1947: Graduated High School
In 1947, Warren Buffett graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School.
1949: Buffett Buys Ukulele
In 1949, Warren Buffett bought a ukulele in an attempt to impress a young woman. While the attempt was unsuccessful, his interest in the instrument became a key part of his becoming a part of Susan Thompson's life, and led to their marriage.
1950: Rejected by Harvard Business School
After being rejected by Harvard Business School in the spring of 1950, Buffett enrolled at Columbia Business School of Columbia University upon learning that Benjamin Graham taught there.
1951: Worked at Buffett-Falk & Co.
From 1951, Warren Buffett worked as an investment salesman at his father's firm, Buffett-Falk & Co.
1951: First Purchase of GEICO Stock
In 1951, Warren Buffett discovered that Benjamin Graham was on the board of GEICO insurance, met Lorimer Davidson, GEICO's vice president, and made his first purchase of GEICO stock.
1951: Graduated from Columbia
In 1951, Warren Buffett graduated with a Master of Science in economics from Columbia Business School. After graduating, Buffett attended the New York Institute of Finance.
1952: Buffett Marries Susan Thompson
In 1952, Warren Buffett married Susan Thompson at Dundee Presbyterian Church.
1954: Joined Graham-Newman Corp.
From 1954, Warren Buffett worked as a securities analyst at Graham-Newman Corp.
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 Howard Buffett
In 1954, Warren Buffett and Susan Thompson had their second child, Howard.
1956: Became General Partner in Investment Partnerships
From 1956, Warren Buffett worked as the general partner at several investment partnerships.
1956: Graham Retired, Buffett Returned to Omaha
In 1956, Benjamin Graham retired and closed his partnership, leading Warren Buffett to return to Omaha and start a series of investment partnerships.
1956: Created Buffett Partnership Ltd.
In 1956, Warren Buffett created Buffett Partnership Ltd.
1957: Operated Three Investment Partnerships
In 1957, Warren Buffett operated three investment partnerships.
1958: Sanborn Stock Sold
In 1958, Sanborn stock sold for only $45 per share, but the company's investment portfolio was worth $65 per share.
1958: Birth of Peter Buffett
In 1958, Warren Buffett and Susan Thompson had their third child, Peter.
1958: Home Purchase
In 1958, Warren Buffett bought a five-bedroom stucco house in Omaha for $31,500, where he continues to reside.
1959: Introduced to Charlie Munger
In 1959, Warren Buffett was introduced to Charlie Munger during a business luncheon.
1961: Investment in Sanborn Map Company
In 1961, Warren Buffett revealed that 35% of the partnership's assets were invested in the Sanborn Map Company.
1962: Became a Millionaire
In 1962, Warren Buffett became a millionaire with the success of his partnerships.
1965: Took Control of Berkshire Hathaway
In 1965, Warren Buffett's partnerships began aggressively purchasing shares of Berkshire Hathaway, and he took control of the company at a board meeting.
1966: Closed Partnership to New Money
In 1966, Warren Buffett closed the partnership to new money.
1967: Berkshire Paid First Dividend
In 1967, Berkshire Hathaway paid out its first and only dividend of 10 cents.
1969: Liquidated Partnership
In 1969, Warren Buffett liquidated the partnership and transferred their assets to his partners, including shares of Berkshire Hathaway.
1969: General Partner in Investment Partnerships
Until 1969, Warren Buffett worked as the general partner at several investment partnerships.
1970: Chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway
From 1970, Warren Buffett worked as chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Inc.
1970: Became Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway
In 1970, Warren Buffett emerged as the chairman and majority shareholder of Berkshire Hathaway.
1971: Vacation Home Purchase
In 1971, Warren Buffett purchased a vacation home in Laguna Beach, California, for $150,000.
1973: Berkshire Acquired Stock in Washington Post
In 1973, Berkshire began to acquire stock in the Washington Post Company.
1974: SEC Investigation into Wesco Financial Acquisition
In 1974, the SEC opened a formal investigation into Warren Buffett and Berkshire's acquisition of Wesco Financial due to possible conflict of interest, but no charges were brought.
1977: Berkshire Purchased Buffalo Evening News
In 1977, Berkshire indirectly purchased the Buffalo Evening News for $32.5 million, leading to antitrust charges instigated by its rival, the Buffalo Courier-Express.
1977: Susan Buffett moves to San Francisco
In 1977, Susan Buffett moved to San Francisco to pursue her singing career. Astrid Menks started living with Warren Buffett around this time.
1977: Buffetts Begin Living Separately
In 1977, Warren Buffett and Susan Thompson began living separately, although they remained married.
1977: Buffett's Statement on Stocks, Gold, Farmland, and Inflation
In 1977, Warren Buffett made a statement regarding stocks, gold, farmland, and inflation; however, the exact details of the statement are not provided in the given text.
1978: Charlie Munger joined Berkshire Hathaway
In 1978, Charlie Munger joined Warren Buffett as vice-chairman of Berkshire Hathaway.
1979: Berkshire acquired stock in ABC
In 1979, Berkshire began to acquire stock in ABC.
1982: Buffalo Courier-Express Folded
In 1982, The Buffalo Courier-Express folded.
March 18, 1985: Capital Cities Purchased ABC
On March 18, 1985, Capital Cities announced a $3.5 billion purchase of ABC, and Warren Buffett helped finance the deal in return for a 25% stake in the combined company.
1985: Sold Mills of Berkshire Hathaway
In 1985, Warren Buffet sold the last of the mills that had been the core business of Berkshire Hathaway.
1985: First Television Appearance on Adam Smith's Money World
In 1985, Warren Buffett made his first television appearance on Adam Smith's Money World.
1987: Buffett's Quote During RJR Nabisco Takeover Fight
During the RJR Nabisco, Inc., hostile takeover fight in 1987, Warren Buffett was quoted as telling John Gutfreund; however, the exact quote is not provided in the given text.
1987: Berkshire Hathaway Purchased Stake in Salomon Inc.
In 1987, Berkshire Hathaway purchased a 12% stake in Salomon Inc., making it the largest shareholder and Buffett a director.
1988: Bought The Coca-Cola Company Stock
In 1988, Warren Buffett began buying The Coca-Cola Company stock, eventually purchasing up to 7% of the company for $1.02 billion.
1989: Private Jet Purchase
In 1989, Warren Buffett spent nearly $6.7 million on a private jet, initially naming it "The Indefensible", later renaming it "The Indispensable."
1990: Scandal Involving John Gutfreund Surfaced
In 1990, a scandal involving John Gutfreund, the former CEO of Salomon Brothers, surfaced.
August 1991: Gutfreund Left Salomon
In August 1991, John Gutfreund left Salomon, and Warren Buffett became chairman of Salomon until the crisis passed.
1994: Buffett's Remarks on Tobacco Investments
Speaking at Berkshire Hathaway Inc.'s 1994 annual meeting, Warren Buffett made comments about investments in tobacco; however, the exact nature of his statement is not provided in the given text.
1998: Acquired General Re (Gen Re)
In 1998 Warren Buffett acquired General Re (Gen Re) as a subsidiary in a deal that presented difficulties due to inadequate underwriting standards and a problematic derivatives book.
1998: Coca-Cola Shares Peak
In 1998, The Coca-Cola Company shares peaked at $86. Buffett discussed the difficulties of knowing when to sell in Berkshire Hathaway's 2004 annual report.
1998: Buffett's Harvard Address on Gold
In 1998, Warren Buffett delivered an address at Harvard where he was critical of gold as an investment, primarily because of its non-productive nature.
November 1999: Buffett Warns of Unrealistic Expectations
In his November 1999 Fortune article, Warren Buffett warned of investors' unrealistic expectations.
1999: Top Money Manager of the Twentieth Century
In 1999, Warren Buffett was named the Top Money Manager of the Twentieth Century in a survey by the Carson Group.
1999: Private Jet Sale
Prior to mid-1999, Warren Buffett sold his private jet and has since then typically utilized Berkshire's flight services businesses.
2000: Analogy about inheritance tax
In 2000, Warren Buffett made a comparison to the 2000 Olympic gold medalists to express his opinion on inheritance tax. He stated that repealing it would be like "choosing the 2020 Olympic team by picking the eldest sons of the gold-medal winners in the 2000 Olympics".
2001: Lincoln Town Car owned
In 2006, Warren Buffett auctioned his 2001 Lincoln Town Car on eBay to raise money for Girls, Inc.
2002: Involved with AIG
In 2002, General Re provided reinsurance after Warren Buffett became involved with Maurice R. Greenberg at AIG.
2002: Buffett Enters Currency Contracts
In 2002, Warren Buffett entered into $11 billion worth of forward contracts to deliver U.S. dollars against other currencies.
2002: Buffett Enters Foreign Currency Market
In 2002, Warren Buffett entered the foreign currency market for the first time due to the trade deficit.
2002: Adviser to Nuclear Threat Initiative
In 2002, Warren Buffett pledged $50 million to the Nuclear Threat Initiative in Washington and began serving as an advisor.
2003: Financial Advisor to Schwarzenegger
In 2003, Warren Buffett served as a financial advisor to Republican candidate Arnold Schwarzenegger during the California gubernatorial election.
July 2004: Death of Susan Buffett
In July 2004, Susan Buffett, Warren Buffett's first wife, passed away.
2004: Buffett Lambasts Stock Option Compensation Bill
At the 2004 annual meeting, Warren Buffett criticized a bill before the United States Congress that would consider only some company-issued stock options compensation as an expense. He compared the bill to a hypothetical one in the Indiana House of Representatives to change the value of Pi from 3.14159 to 3.2.
2004: Wife's Estate to Buffett Foundation
In 2004, the bulk of Warren Buffett's wife's estate, valued at $2.6 billion, went to the Buffett Foundation.
2004: Buffett Discusses Selling Difficulties
In the company's 2004 annual report, Warren Buffett discussed the difficulties of knowing when to sell, in light of The Coca-Cola Company's stock peaking in 1998.
March 15, 2005: Greenberg Resigned from AIG
On March 15, 2005, the AIG board forced Maurice Greenberg to resign from his post as chairman and CEO after New York state regulators claimed that AIG had engaged in questionable transactions and improper accounting.
2005: Buffett Reduces Stake in Foreign Currency Market
In 2005, Warren Buffett substantially reduced his stake in the foreign currency market because changing interest rates increased the costs of holding currency contracts. He remained bearish on the dollar, looking to acquire companies with substantial foreign revenues.
February 9, 2006: AIG Agreed to Pay Fine
On February 9, 2006, AIG agreed to pay a $1.6 billion fine.
April 2006: Buffett's Gain on Currency Contracts
In April 2006, Warren Buffett's total gain on forward contracts to deliver U.S. dollars against other currencies exceeded $2 billion.
June 2006: Charitable Giving Plan Announcement
In June 2006, Warren Buffett announced his plan to donate 83% of his fortune to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
June 2006: Buffett Announces Charitable Giving
In June 2006, Warren Buffett announced his plan to gradually donate 85% of his Berkshire holdings to five foundations, with the largest portion going to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, starting in July 2006. This was one of the largest philanthropic contributions of all time.
June 23, 2006: Largest Charitable Donation
On June 23, 2006, Warren Buffett pledged approximately $30.7 billion worth of Berkshire Hathaway Class B shares to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, marking the largest charitable donation in history.
July 2006: Start of Charitable Stock Gifts
In July 2006, Warren Buffett began annual gifts of stock to five foundations, including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, as part of his commitment to give away 85% of his Berkshire holdings.
December 2006: Tech Preferences
In December 2006, it was noted that Warren Buffett did not use a mobile phone or have a computer at his desk and drove his own Cadillac DTS.
2006: Lincoln Town Car Auction
In 2006, Warren Buffett auctioned his 2001 Lincoln Town Car on eBay to raise money for Girls, Inc.
2006: Buffett Disowns Granddaughter Nicole
In 2006, Warren Buffett disowned his son Peter's adopted daughter, Nicole, after she participated in the documentary "The One Percent."
2006: Bridge Match Sponsorship
In 2006, Warren Buffett sponsored a bridge match known as the Buffett Cup, which was modeled after the Ryder Cup in golf.
2006: Annual Salary
In 2006, Warren Buffett's annual salary was approximately $100,000, which was relatively small compared to the compensation of senior executives in similar companies.
2006: Buffett Marries Astrid Menks
In 2006, on his 76th birthday, Warren Buffett married his longtime companion, Astrid Menks. She had lived with him since his wife's departure to San Francisco in 1977.
2006: Federal Tax Rate Disparity
Warren Buffet stated that he only paid 19% of his income for 2006 in total federal taxes, while his employees paid 33% of theirs.
2007: Supported Football Coach Hire
Following the 2007 season, Warren Buffett supported the hiring of Bo Pelini as the Nebraska football coach.
2007: PacifiCorp Cancels Coal-Fired Power Plants
In 2007, Buffett's PacifiCorp, a subsidiary of MidAmerican Energy Company, canceled six proposed coal-fired power plants, including Utah's Intermountain Power Project Unit 3 and Jim Bridger Unit 5, due to pressure from regulators and citizen groups.
2007: Succession Planning Announcement
In 2007, Warren Buffett announced in a letter to shareholders that he was seeking a younger successor, or multiple successors, to manage his investment business.
2007: Charity Luncheon Auction
In 2007, Warren Buffett auctioned a luncheon with himself, raising $650,100 for the Glide Foundation.
2007: Buffett's Bet on Index Funds
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 a plutocracy. He argued against repealing the inheritance tax, likening it to selecting the 2020 Olympic team by choosing the eldest sons of the 2000 Olympic gold medalists.
2007: Time's 100 Most Influential People
In 2007, Warren Buffett was listed among Time's 100 Most Influential People in the world.
2007: Criticism During Subprime Mortgage Crisis
In 2007, with the onset of the subprime mortgage crisis and the Great Recession, Warren Buffett faced criticism for allocating capital too early, which led to suboptimal deals. He called the downturn in the financial sector that started in 2007 "poetic justice".
July 2, 2008: Obama Campaign Fundraiser
On July 2, 2008, Warren Buffett attended a $28,500 per plate fundraiser for Barack Obama's presidential campaign in Chicago.
September 23, 2008: Berkshire Hathaway Invests in Goldman Sachs
On September 23, 2008, Berkshire Hathaway acquired 10 percent of perpetual preferred stock of Goldman Sachs.
October 2008: Report on Books About Buffett
In October 2008, USA Today reported that at least 47 books were in print with Warren Buffett's name in the title. Buffett mentioned that his personal favorite is The Essays of Warren Buffett, which he described as "a coherent rearrangement of ideas from my annual report letters".
October 2008: Buffett Agrees to Buy General Electric Preferred Stock
In October 2008, Warren Buffett agreed to purchase General Electric (GE) preferred stock, which included an option to buy three billion shares of GE stock at $22.25 over five years, along with a 10% dividend.
October 2008: Buffett Invests in BYD Company
In October 2008, Warren Buffett invested $230 million for a 10% stake in battery maker BYD Company, which has a subsidiary named BYD Auto, an electric automobile manufacturer. Within a year, this investment yielded a return of over 500%.
2008: Buffett Becomes Richest Person in the World
In 2008, Warren Buffett became the richest person in the world, with his net worth estimated at $62 billion by Forbes and $58 billion by Yahoo, surpassing Bill Gates.
2008: Buffett's "Buy American" Opinion Piece and Berkshire's Earnings Drop
In 2008, Warren Buffett published an opinion piece in the New York Times titled "Buy American. I am." advocating for investing in American companies. Also in 2008, Berkshire Hathaway experienced a 77% drop in earnings during Q3, and several of Buffett's later deals suffered significant mark-to-market losses.
2008: Richest Person in the World
In 2008, Warren Buffett was ranked by Forbes as the richest person in the world, with an estimated net worth of approximately $62 billion.
2008: Total Compensation
In 2008, Warren Buffett's total compensation amounted to $175,000, which included a base salary of $100,000.
February 2009: Buffett Sells Procter & Gamble and Johnson & Johnson Shares
In February 2009, Warren Buffett sold some of his personal portfolio shares of Procter & Gamble Co. and Johnson & Johnson.
March 2009: Buffett Comments on Economy and Inflation
In March 2009, Warren Buffett stated in a cable television interview that the economy had "fallen off a cliff" and people had drastically changed their habits. He also expressed concerns about the potential resurgence of 1970s-style inflation.
June 2009: Berkshire Hathaway Market Capitalization
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 Regains Top Spot on Forbes List
In 2009, Bill Gates regained the top position on the Forbes list of the world's wealthiest people, while Warren Buffett shifted to second place. Forbes reported that Buffett's net worth decreased by $25 billion over a 12-month period from 2008 to 2009.
2009: Inspiration for Novel
In 2009, Ralph Nader wrote the book Only the Super Rich Can Save Us, a novel featuring Warren Buffett using his fortune to improve America.
2009: Atul Gawande's Article Consideration
In 2009, Warren Buffett cited Atul Gawande's article in the New Yorker as a useful consideration of US health care, highlighting unwarranted variation in Medicare expenditures.
2009: Buffett Divests ConocoPhillips Investment
In 2009, Warren Buffett divested his failed investment in ConocoPhillips, addressing his Berkshire investors regarding the matter.
2009: "The Good Club" meeting
In 2009, Warren Buffett met with several other billionaires, including Oprah Winfrey, Michael Bloomberg and David Rockefeller, Jr. to discuss healthcare, education and slowing population growth, in what was dubbed "The Good Club".
2009: Buffett Sold Shares of Johnson and Johnson
In 2009, Warren Buffett sold shares of Johnson and Johnson, with the sales totaling $80 million in value. This was revealed by a 2023 ProPublica article.
2009: Honorary Assistant Coach
In 2009, Warren Buffett was named an honorary assistant coach and watched the game against Oklahoma from the Nebraska sideline. Buffett was also elected to the American Philosophical Society in 2009.
2009: Second Richest Man in the US
In 2009, after donating billions of dollars to charity, Warren Buffett was ranked as the second richest man in the United States with a net worth of $37 billion.
June 2010: Buffett Defends Credit-Rating Agencies
In June 2010, Warren Buffett defended 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 and encouraging other wealthy individuals to do the same.
2010: Founded the Giving Pledge
In 2010, Warren Buffett founded the Giving Pledge with Bill Gates, whereby billionaires pledge to give away at least half of their fortunes.
2010: Cameo in Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps
In 2010, Warren Buffett made a cameo appearance in the film Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps.
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.
2010: Most Influential Global Thinker
In 2010, Warren Buffett, along with Bill Gates, was named the most influential global thinker in Foreign Policy's report.
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.
March 18, 2011: Goldman Sachs Repurchases Berkshire's Preferred Stock
On March 18, 2011, Goldman Sachs received Federal Reserve approval to buy back Berkshire Hathaway's preferred stock in Goldman. Buffett had been reluctant to relinquish the stock, which averaged $1.4 million in daily dividends.
November 2011: Buffett Invests in IBM
In November 2011, Warren Buffett's purchase of 64 million shares of International Business Machine Corp (IBM) stock, valued at approximately $11 billion, was revealed, raising his stake in the company to around 5.5 percent. This investment surprised many observers, as Buffett had previously stated he would not invest in technology due to a lack of understanding.
2011: Presidential Medal of Freedom
In 2011, President Barack Obama awarded Warren Buffett the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
2011: Newspaper Acquisition
Warren Buffett's company acquired the Omaha World Herald newspaper in 2011, which he reads daily.
April 11, 2012: Prostate Cancer Diagnosis
On April 11, 2012, Warren Buffett was diagnosed with stage I prostate cancer during a routine test.
May 2012: Buffett on Technology Stocks and IPOs
In May 2012, Warren Buffett stated that he had avoided buying stock in high-technology companies like Facebook and Google due to their complexity and the difficulty in estimating their future value. He also advised that initial public offerings (IPOs) are typically bad investments, and investors should seek companies that will retain good value over ten years.
May 2012: Buffett Acquires Media General
In May 2012, Warren Buffett's acquisition of Media General, consisting of 63 newspapers in the southeastern U.S., was announced.
September 15, 2012: Completion of Radiation Treatment
On September 15, 2012, Warren Buffett announced that he had completed a full 44-day radiation treatment cycle for prostate cancer.
2012: Buffett Sold Shares of Wells Fargo
In 2012, Warren Buffett sold shares of Wells Fargo, with the sales totaling $80 million in value. This was revealed by a 2023 ProPublica article.
May 2013: Buffett Discusses Newspaper Acquisitions
At the Berkshire shareholders meeting in May 2013, Warren Buffett stated that he did not expect newspaper acquisitions to significantly impact Berkshire's overall performance, but he anticipated an annual return of 10 percent.
July 18, 2013: Press of Atlantic City Sold to BH Media Group
On July 18, 2013, it was announced that the Press of Atlantic City would be sold to Warren Buffett's BH Media Group by ABARTA.
September 2013: Net Worth
As of September 2013, Warren Buffett's net worth had risen to $58.5 billion.
September 2013: Buffett Compares U.S. Federal Reserve to Hedge Fund
In late September 2013, during a presentation to Georgetown University students in Washington, D.C., Warren Buffett compared the U.S. Federal Reserve to a hedge fund and stated that the bank generates "$80 billion or $90 billion a year probably" in revenue for the U.S. government.
December 9, 2013: Berkshire Hathaway Purchase of USG Corporation Shares
On December 9, 2013, Berkshire Hathaway purchased shares in USG Corporation, which led to a fine in August 2014 for failing to report the purchase as required.
2013: Phone and Email Habits
In 2013, Warren Buffett had an old Nokia flip phone and had sent only one email in his entire life.
August 14, 2014: Berkshire Hathaway's Share Price Hits $200,000
On August 14, 2014, Berkshire Hathaway's share price reached $200,000 for the first time, valuing the company at $328 billion.
August 20, 2014: Berkshire Hathaway Fined for Reporting Violation
On August 20, 2014, Berkshire Hathaway was fined $896,000 for failing to report the December 9, 2013, purchase of shares in USG Corporation as required.
December 16, 2015: Endorsement of Hillary Clinton
On December 16, 2015, Warren Buffett endorsed Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton for president.
2015: Cameo in Entourage
In 2015, Warren Buffett made a cameo appearance in the TV program Entourage.
August 1, 2016: Tax Return Challenge to Trump
On August 1, 2016, Warren Buffett challenged Donald Trump to release his tax returns.
October 10, 2016: Release of Tax Return
On October 10, 2016, Warren Buffett released his own tax return, reporting he paid $1.85 million in federal income taxes on an adjusted gross income of $11.6 million.
April 2017: Likeness on Cherry Coke
In April 2017, Warren Buffett allowed his likeness to be used on Cherry Coke products in China, without compensation.
2017: Index Fund Outperforms Hedge Funds
By 2017, the S&P 500 index fund in Warren Buffett's bet was outperforming every hedge fund that had made the bet against him.
2017: Subject of HBO Documentary Becoming Warren Buffett
In 2017, Warren Buffett was the subject of the HBO documentary Becoming Warren Buffett.
January 2018: Buffett Comments on Bitcoin and Cryptocurrencies
In January 2018, Warren Buffett stated in an interview with CNBC that the cryptocurrency craze, specifically regarding Bitcoin, would not end well, referring to it as "rat poison squared." He also said he would not short bitcoin futures.
2018: Preferred Search Engine
At Berkshire Hathaway's 2018 shareholder meeting, Warren Buffett stated that he uses Google as his preferred search engine.
2018: Vacation Home Sale
In 2018, Warren Buffett sold his vacation home in Laguna Beach, California, for $7.5 million.
2018: Forbes' List Ranking
In 2018, after donating almost $3.4 billion, Warren Buffett was ranked 3rd in the Forbes' List of Billionaires.
February 2020: iPhone Acquisition
In February 2020, Warren Buffett revealed in a CNBC interview that he had traded in his flip phone for an iPhone 11.
2020: Analogy about inheritance tax
In 2020, Warren Buffett used an analogy to express his opinion on inheritance tax. He stated that repealing it would be like "choosing the 2020 Olympic team by picking the eldest sons of the gold-medal winners in the 2000 Olympics".
2020: Potential Vote for Trump
Warren Buffett stated he would evaluate President Donald Trump based on national safety, economic growth, and economic participation to decide if he would vote for him in the 2020 presidential election.
June 2021: Buffett Comments on COVID-19 Economic Impact
In June 2021, Warren Buffett stated in a CNBC interview that the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has increased economic inequality. He noted the negative impact on numerous small businesses and predicted unpredictability in the markets and economy during the post-pandemic recovery, despite efforts from the Biden administration and the Federal Reserve.
June 23, 2021: Resignation as Gates Foundation Trustee
On June 23, 2021, Warren Buffett announced his resignation as a trustee of the Gates Foundation, which was a significant shift from his previous intention to pass most of his fortune to his own Buffett Foundation.
November 2022: Donation to Charitable Foundations
In November 2022, Warren Buffett donated $750 million in Berkshire Hathaway shares to four charitable foundations run by his children.
2022: Buffett Reconciles with Granddaughter Nicole
By 2022, Warren Buffett and his granddaughter Nicole had reconciled.
September 2023: Death of Jimmy Buffett
In September 2023, Warren Buffett's longtime friend, singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett, passed away. They often referred to each other as "Uncle Warren" and "Cousin Jimmy", despite not being related by blood.
2023: Total Charitable Giving
As of 2023, Warren Buffett has given over $50 billion to charitable causes.
2023: ProPublica Article Alleges Conflict of Interest
In 2023, a ProPublica article, based on leaked IRS data, alleged that Warren Buffett made equity trades in his personal portfolio involving companies that Berkshire Hathaway bought or sold during the same or preceding quarter, raising conflict of interest concerns.
2024: House Value Equivalent
In 1958, Buffett bought a house for US$31,500, which is equivalent to $352,658 in 2024.
April 5, 2025: Buffett's Net Worth
As of April 5, 2025, Warren Buffett's estimated net worth was US$154.4 billion, making him the fifth-richest individual in the world, according to Forbes.
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