Warren Buffett

Warren Buffett is widely regarded as the greatest investor of all time. Born in 1930 in Omaha, Nebraska, he displayed a talent for business and investing from childhood, filing his first tax return at age 13. He studied under Benjamin Graham at Columbia Business School, absorbing the principles of value investing that would define his career. He took control of Berkshire Hathaway in 1965 — then a failing textile company — and transformed it into one of the world's largest conglomerates with a market capitalization exceeding $1 trillion.

Berkshire's investment philosophy centers on buying wonderful businesses at fair prices and holding them forever. Buffett is famous for his patience, his disdain for excessive fees and complexity, and his annual shareholder letters, which have become required reading for investors worldwide. His long-time partner Charlie Munger, who passed away in 2023, was instrumental in shifting Buffett's approach from pure Graham-style bargain hunting toward quality businesses with durable competitive advantages.