Warren Buffett is the world’s most famous investor — and at 95 years old, the longest-tenured CEO of any major American corporation. His net worth in 2026 is estimated at $135 billion, making him the world’s fifth-richest person. Virtually all of it comes from a 14% stake in Berkshire Hathaway, the holding company he transformed from a failing Massachusetts textile mill into a $1 trillion conglomerate that owns GEICO, BNSF Railway, Dairy Queen, See’s Candies, Duracell and major stakes in Apple, American Express, Coca-Cola and Bank of America.
| Full Name | Warren Edward Buffett |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | August 30, 1930 |
| Age | 95 years old (2026) |
| Birthplace | Omaha, Nebraska, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Investor, Berkshire Hathaway CEO/Chairman |
| Net Worth | $135 Billion (2026) |
| Spouse | Astrid Menks (m. 2006); Susan Thompson (m. 1952, d. 2004) |
| Children | Susan Alice, Howard Graham, Peter |
| Known For | Building Berkshire Hathaway, value investing, the Giving Pledge |
Walk Through the Article
Early Life and Education
Warren Edward Buffett was born on August 30, 1930, in Omaha, Nebraska, the second of three children of Leila (Stahl) and U.S. Congressman Howard Buffett. His father was a stockbroker and four-term Republican congressman. Buffett showed an early interest in business: at age 6, he bought six-packs of Coca-Cola for 25 cents and resold individual bottles for a nickel each.
By age 11, Buffett had bought his first stock — three shares of Cities Service Preferred at $38, which he sold at $40 for a $5 profit before watching the stock rise to over $200. He later cited this as the first lesson in his core investing principle: patience.
Buffett filed his first tax return at 13, deducting $35 for his bicycle as a business expense. By age 14, he had saved $1,200 from paper routes and other ventures, which he used to buy 40 acres of Nebraska farmland that he rented to a tenant farmer. He graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1947 and enrolled at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania at 16.
He transferred to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln after two years, graduating in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. After being rejected by Harvard Business School, Buffett enrolled at Columbia Business School to study under Benjamin Graham — the father of value investing and author of The Intelligent Investor, which Buffett had read repeatedly. He earned his Master of Science in Economics from Columbia in 1951.
Career Timeline
The Buffett Partnerships (1956–1969)
After working briefly for his father’s brokerage and then for Graham-Newman Corp in New York, Buffett returned to Omaha in 1956 and launched Buffett Partnership, Ltd. with seven family members and friends as limited partners, contributing $105,100. He took a small management fee plus 25% of profits above a 4% threshold. By the time he wound down the partnership in 1969, it had grown to $100+ million and returned 24% annually, dramatically outperforming the Dow.
Berkshire Hathaway: The Mill That Became a Trillion-Dollar Conglomerate
In 1962, Buffett began buying shares of Berkshire Hathaway, a struggling textile company based in New Bedford, Massachusetts. By 1965 he had gained controlling interest and made himself chairman. He later called the textile acquisition his “worst investment ever” — but used Berkshire’s cash flow to acquire National Indemnity (insurance, 1967), the Buffalo News (1977), See’s Candies (1972) and GEICO (full ownership by 1996).
Berkshire’s “float” — the money insurance customers pay in premiums before claims are made — became Buffett’s source of low-cost investment capital. By 2026, Berkshire owns over 60 subsidiary companies, including BNSF Railway (acquired 2010 for $44B), Duracell, Dairy Queen, NetJets, Lubrizol and Precision Castparts.
Major Stock Investments
Berkshire’s public-stock portfolio is one of the most-watched in the world. The biggest positions in 2026 include:
- Apple — Buffett’s largest position, started in 2016. Berkshire has trimmed its Apple stake but still holds tens of billions of dollars worth.
- American Express — Owned since 1991, now worth $35B+ at a cost basis of $1.3B.
- Bank of America — Acquired through a 2011 preferred-shares deal.
- Coca-Cola — A position established in 1988 that has paid Berkshire over $10B in dividends alone.
- Occidental Petroleum, Chevron, Kraft Heinz — Major long-term holdings.
Net Worth & Income Sources
Buffett’s $135 billion net worth is almost entirely in Berkshire Hathaway shares (Class A: BRK.A; Class B: BRK.B). He owns approximately 14% of the company’s economic interest.
How Does Warren Buffett Make Money?
| Income Source | Estimated Amount | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berkshire Hathaway A & B shares | $130B+ | Cumulative | Approximately 14% economic interest in Berkshire Hathaway; the foundation of his net worth |
| Berkshire CEO salary | $100,000/year | Annual (personal) | One of the lowest CEO salaries among S&P 500 companies; unchanged for 25+ years |
| Berkshire dividends received | $0/year | Annual (personal) | Famously, Berkshire Hathaway has paid only one dividend (in 1967) since Buffett took over; he prefers reinvesting cash |
| Personal investment portfolio (outside Berkshire) | ~$1-2B | Cumulative | Small portfolio of stocks held outside Berkshire — Buffett famously keeps his personal accounts simple |
| Speaking fees and book royalties | ~$0-$1M/year | Annual (personal) | Buffett rarely accepts paid speaking engagements; his annual letter to shareholders is free |
| Estimated Total Net Worth | $135 Billion (2026, per Forbes Real-Time Billionaires) | ||
Note: Buffett has pledged to give away 99%+ of his wealth, primarily to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Since 2006 he has donated over $58 billion in Berkshire shares — yet his net worth has continued to grow because Berkshire’s stock appreciated faster than he gave shares away.
Net Worth Over Time
Buffett became a millionaire at age 32 in 1962. He first appeared on the Forbes 400 in 1985 with a $250M fortune. He crossed $1 billion in 1986. Through the 1990s tech boom, he refused to invest in dot-com stocks — sticking to his “circle of competence” rule — and was widely mocked, only to be vindicated by the 2000 crash. His net worth crossed $100B in 2024, despite donating over $58B to charity.
Personal Life
Buffett married Susan Thompson in April 1952. They had three children: Susan Alice (b. 1953), Howard Graham (b. 1954), and Peter (b. 1958). In 1977, Susan moved to San Francisco to pursue a singing career, though they remained legally married and friends until her death from a stroke in 2004. With Susan’s blessing, Buffett began living with Astrid Menks in 1978; he and Astrid married on his 76th birthday in August 2006.
Buffett still lives in the modest five-bedroom Dundee-neighborhood house in Omaha that he bought for $31,500 in 1958. He drinks five cans of Coca-Cola a day, eats McDonald’s for breakfast most mornings, and has famously said his diet is “the same as a six-year-old’s.”
Awards & Recognition
Buffett received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Obama in 2011. He has been named one of the most influential people in the world by Time magazine multiple times. In 2010, he and Bill Gates co-founded the Giving Pledge.
Little-Known Facts
- Buffett delivers Berkshire’s famous annual letter to shareholders himself — handwritten first drafts, edited by Carol Loomis until 2014.
- He has used the same desk for 60+ years and has no computer on it. He uses an iPhone only for calls.
- Buffett’s first investment as a teenager was a pinball machine in a barbershop; he eventually owned three in different shops.
- He famously bid $4.6 million for a charity lunch with himself (proceeds to the Glide Foundation).
- In December 2024 he announced his successor: Greg Abel will become Berkshire’s CEO when Buffett steps down.
Frequently Asked Questions About Warren Buffett’s Net Worth
What is Warren Buffett’s net worth in 2026?
Warren Buffett’s net worth in 2026 is estimated at $135 billion, making him the world’s fifth-richest person according to Forbes. Virtually all of it comes from his 14% economic interest in Berkshire Hathaway, the holding company he has run since 1965.
How did Warren Buffett make his money?
Buffett built his fortune by transforming Berkshire Hathaway — a failing Massachusetts textile mill he acquired control of in 1965 — into a $1+ trillion conglomerate. He used Berkshire’s insurance “float” (premiums held before claims) as low-cost investment capital, acquiring companies like GEICO, BNSF Railway, and See’s Candies while building one of history’s most-followed public-stock portfolios.
How much does Warren Buffett earn per year?
Buffett’s official salary as Berkshire Hathaway CEO has been $100,000 per year for over 25 years — one of the lowest CEO salaries in the S&P 500. He does not collect Berkshire dividends (the company has only paid one dividend in his entire tenure, in 1967). His actual annual wealth gain comes from the appreciation of his Berkshire shares.
What stocks does Warren Buffett own through Berkshire Hathaway?
Berkshire’s largest 2026 holdings include Apple, American Express, Bank of America, Coca-Cola, Chevron, and Occidental Petroleum. The portfolio is reported quarterly through Berkshire’s 13F SEC filing and Buffett’s annual letter to shareholders.
How old is Warren Buffett?
Warren Buffett was born on August 30, 1930. He turned 95 years old in 2025 and remains active as Berkshire Hathaway’s Chairman and CEO, though he has announced that Greg Abel will succeed him as CEO.
Where does Warren Buffett live?
Buffett lives in the same five-bedroom stucco house in the Dundee neighborhood of Omaha, Nebraska, that he bought in 1958 for $31,500. He calls it “the third-best investment I’ve ever made.”
Is Warren Buffett married?
Buffett is married to Astrid Menks, whom he wed in August 2006. His first wife, Susan Thompson Buffett, died in 2004 after a stroke. Astrid had lived with Buffett since 1978 with Susan’s consent.
How much money has Warren Buffett donated to charity?
Buffett has donated over $58 billion in Berkshire Hathaway shares since 2006, primarily to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation but also to the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation and his children’s foundations. He has pledged to give away 99%+ of his wealth and co-founded the Giving Pledge with Bill Gates in 2010.
Who will run Berkshire Hathaway after Warren Buffett?
Greg Abel, currently Vice Chairman of Non-Insurance Operations, has been designated as Buffett’s successor as CEO. Buffett announced the formal succession plan in December 2024. Ajit Jain will continue overseeing insurance operations.
What books has Warren Buffett written?
Buffett has never authored a book himself. The closest equivalents are his annual letters to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders (compiled in The Essays of Warren Buffett edited by Lawrence Cunningham) and the authorized biography The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life by Alice Schroeder, published in 2008.
Also Read:
- Bill Gates Net Worth 2026 — Buffett’s longtime friend and Giving Pledge co-founder, worth $115B
- Elon Musk Net Worth 2026 — The current world’s richest person at ~$200B
- Jeff Bezos Net Worth 2026 — Amazon’s founder and the world’s second-richest person
