August 30th Will Be a Big Day for Warren Buffett

August 23rd, 2010

Happy 80th to the “Oracle of Omaha.” And many, many more!
Here’s one man who will not be applying for any kind of loan in order to throw a birthday bash. For Warren Buffet this will be another milestone in his long and successful life. So here I am, a little early in the long line, come to shake your hand. “Congratulations, Mr. Buffett! Well done for a life well lived. May you have many more good years.”

Berkshire Hathaway
As chairman and chief executive of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. for almost half a century, you have become deservedly very rich and very famous, truly an American original. Arguably the greatest investor of them all, you have been unwavering in your investing principles, a buy-and-holder who once said: “My favorite time for holding a stock is forever.” Well, in fact, Warren, you have sold stocks from time to time that you didn’t feel would pay off over that forever time-frame. And some of your few critics have said that you have held on to certain investments too long.

The difference
Every time I read about you in the news, I wonder briefly what makes you different from the rest of us, how and why you became the great investor you are. I came to the conclusion that it is a case of rare intelligence enhanced by focus and a real understanding of people. Here’s an example. About 15 years ago, when you were around 65, someone asked you about your plans for retirement. You were quoted as saying, “Retirement plans? About five to 10 years after I die.” I’ve never met a 65 years old businessman who thinks like that.

The numbers game
I’m 65 and while people say age is just a number, these are getting to be significant numbers. As someone who really knows numbers, you will know that 80 is a more significant number in life’s time frame than 65. Sixty-five is official old age. Eighty is roughly the life expectancy of the average American. Not that you are an average American, even if you do like to cultivate that down-home image, an image that has worn well over the years and continues to endear you to millions of admirers. Your well-chronicled wit and wisdom help put a very human countenance on a deeply complex character, a financial genius so far above the crowd.

The charity thing
Recently, you and your friend Bill Gates, the chairman of Microsoft took philanthropy to new levels, talking 50 other billionaires into pledging half of their fortunes to charity. You’d already said a few years ago that you’d give 98% of your fortune of almost $50-billion to the Melinda and Bill Gates Foundation. This has put an entirely new perspective on the subject of wealth.

Celebrate
Once again, best wishes for the big day, Warren. Go down to the Dairy Queen and get yourself one of those big cones you like.

This entry was posted on Monday, August 23rd, 2010 at 12:40 pm and is filed under Economy, Finance. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

One Response to “August 30th Will Be a Big Day for Warren Buffett”

1. Home says:

   August 30, 2010 at 3:16 pm

   Keep up the good work. Thanks.

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