Warren Buffett didn't start out as a billionaire. Growing up in Omaha, Nebraska, he was just an ordinary boy with an extraordinary knack for numbers. From a young age, Buffett showed a keen interest in business and investing. He sold chewing gum, delivered newspapers, and even ran a pinball machine business in his teens, all of which helped him amass a small fortune.
Buffett's passion for investing only grew stronger as he got older. He devoured books on finance and economics, learning everything he could about the stock market. After graduating from the University of Nebraska - Lincoln, he attended Columbia Business School, where he studied under Benjamin Graham, the father of value investing. Graham's teachings would have a profound influence on Buffett's investment philosophy.
In 1956, Buffett returned to Omaha and started his own investment partnership with just $105,000 from seven limited partners. He applied the principles he had learned from Graham, looking for undervalued companies with strong fundamentals. His early investments were in a variety of businesses, from textile manufacturers to insurance companies.
One of Buffett's most significant moves came in 1965, when he took control of Berkshire Hathaway, a struggling textile company. Instead of trying to turn the textile business around, Buffett gradually transformed Berkshire Hathaway into a diversified holding company. He used the company's cash flow to invest in other businesses, such as See's Candies, GEICO, and Fruit of the Loom.
Over the next few decades, Buffett's investments paid off handsomely. Berkshire Hathaway grew into one of the largest and most successful companies in the world, with a market capitalization of over $700 billion as of 2025. Buffett himself became one of the richest people in the world, but he never lost his down - to - earth demeanor.
Despite his wealth and success, Buffett lives a relatively simple life. He still lives in the same house he bought in Omaha in 1958, and he drives his own car. He is also known for his philanthropy, having pledged to give away 99% of his wealth to charity.
Warren Buffett's story is a testament to the power of hard work, discipline, and a long - term investment approach. He has shown that anyone with a passion for investing and a willingness to learn can achieve great things in the world of finance.
