Warren Buffett is the third richest man in the world and is commonly known as an investor, business magnate and philanthropist. He is considered to be the most successful investor of the 20th century. With his successful career he gained the nicknames Sage of Omaha, Oracle of Omaha and Wizard of Omaha. He is the CEO, primary shareholder and chairman of Berkshire Hathaway.
Berkshire Hathaway is an American multinational multi industry holding company, which also manages a number of subsidiary companies. It has been tremendously successful, as the company has had an average annual growth in book value of 20.3% for more than 40 years. In 2008, Warren Buffet was ranked as the world’s wealthiest person and in 2011 he finished in third place. Besides being an incredible investor he is also well known for his generosity towards charities and he even pledged to give away 99 percent of his fortune. Most of his money goes to the Gates foundation, owned by his good friend Bill Gates. In July he gave $1.5 billion to the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation, bringing his total donations to $17.25 billion (dollars to pounds: £10.76). He has also sworn to give $3 billion of stock to his children’s foundations.
In April this year he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He notified the Berkshire Hathaway shareholders of this and five months later, in September, he completed radiation treatment. At the end of last year he chose his son to become the guardian of the firm’s values and non-executive chairman in the future. He has already chosen his replacement as Berkshire Hathaway CEO, but he refuses to make a name public.
Warren Buffet is 82 years old and lives in Omaha where he lives with his wife Astrid Menks, who has been his lifelong companion. It was his former wife, Susan Buffet who arranged for the two to meet after she left to San Fransisco in 1977. All three were very close. His first wife, Susan Buffet, died eight years ago.