At 94 years old, Warren Buffet continues to lead his legendary conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway to new heights—here are some lessons to learn from him when it comes to living a fulfilling life.
Warren Buffet will go down in history as one of the world’s most successful investors, having made a great fortune throughout his career with an estimated net worth of roughly $149.9 billion, according to Forbes’ Real Time Billionaires List. His success is not a story of the past: at 94 years old, he continues to take his legendary conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway to new heights. Among its extensive and impressive portfolio of companies is American Express, Duracell, See’s Candies, and Dairy Queen, to name a few.
Recently, the billionaire made headlines after Berkshire Hathaway became the first non-tech company to make it to the $1 trillion market-cap club—just when he turned 94 on August 30. This comes as no surprise, and shows that the “Oracle of Omaha” (as many like to call him due to his uncanny investment skills) has not lost his touch.
In his many years of life and professional success, Buffet has given some sage advice when it comes to building a flourishing career and fortune. Yet beyond making money, Buffet has committed himself to helping society as a prominent philanthropist.
Here are just a few lessons on living a fulfilling, successful life that we can take from the investment maven:
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Finding Joy and Purpose
“You want to be doing something you would do if you didn’t need the money. And most people do need the money. But if you’re in the position where you don’t, you should be doing what you would if you didn’t need the money,” Buffett once said in an interview with Fortune.
In other words, Buffet attributes much of his success to the joy and fulfillment he’s found in being an investor. This is advice that applies to almost anyone, but especially the youth. “If you get lucky […] you’ll find things that interest you young. But if you don’t find them right away you keep looking,” he recently shared in an annual Berkshire Hathaway meeting this year, as Ryan Ermey reports for CNBC. “Expect some difficulties along the way, but if you’re thinking that way, you’re more likely to get there.”
Taking Control of Your Narrative
Buffet also emphasizes the importance of living life the way you would want your obituary to look like—a slightly morbid yet amusing thought that he’s found to be very helpful. This is why it’s integral to surround yourself with like-minded individuals who you’d want to “spend the last day of your life with,” as Carmine Gallo reports for Inc.
The billionaire certainly lives life to the fullest and relishes in its little joys. He indulges in what he describes as the diet of a “six-year-old,” drinking coke, eating ice cream, having Oreos for breakfast, and treating himself to all kinds of sweets. Yet he also gets plenty of sleep, plays Bridge, reads books, and keeps his schedule as light as possible, as Mahnoor Khan reports for Fortune—which are likely the reasons for his sharp mind at 94.
Grateful for his blessings and aware of his position of privilege, Buffet has paid it forward in a number of ways. Since 2006, the billionaire has sworn to give more than 99% of his wealth to philanthropic efforts during his lifetime and even after his death through The Giving Pledge.
Philanthropy at the Forefront
Included in The Giving Pledge’s website is a touching statement from Buffet himself on the reasons why he willingly hands out his fortune.
“The reaction of my family and me to our extraordinary good fortune is not guilt, but rather gratitude.Were we to use more than 1% of my claim checks on ourselves, neither our happiness nor our well-being would be enhanced,” he explains. “In contrast, that remaining 99% can have a huge effect on the health and welfare of others. That reality sets an obvious course for me and my family: Keep all we can conceivably need and distribute the rest to society, for its needs.”
The billionaire is holding up to his promise, and has consistently donated large sums of money to charities and meaningful causes. In November 2023, he donated a total of over $870 million in Berkshire Hathaway stocks to the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation, Sherwood Foundation, Howard G. Buffett Foundation, and NoVo Foundation. The first is a foundation he started with his late wife Susan, which focuses on granting healthcare and educational opportunities, while the last three are run by his three children (encompassing focus areas like promoting food security and combating human trafficking in some of the world’s most marginalized populations).
More recently in June 2024, Buffet donated another $5.3 billion to the same aforementioned charities, with the addition of the Gates Foundation (which has also spent years fighting issues like poverty and inaccessible healthcare around the world).
Buffet embodies what it means to live an enriching, purposeful life built on doing what you love, using your power responsibly, and working to make the world a better place through your gifts—something that everyone can learn from.
