Investing and enterprise · United States · 1930–
Warren Buffett Life & Career Timeline
Value investing, decentralised ownership and six decades allocating Berkshire’s capital.
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WBWarren BuffettInvesting and enterprise · United States
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About Warren Buffett
Warren Buffett transformed a textile company into a diversified group while writing extensively about owners, managers and long-term capital.
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Warren Buffett biography
Warren Buffett timeline: key events
Explore 18 documented Moments in chronological order. Read the dates, locations and source references below. Where available, additional context explains why a milestone matters.
Born in Omaha
Warren Edward Buffett was born to Leila and stockbroker and politician Howard Buffett.
Source: www.berkshirehathaway.comBuys his first shares
At eleven Buffett bought Cities Service preferred shares for himself and his sister.
Source: www.berkshirehathaway.comEnters Wharton
He began university study at the Wharton School before transferring to Nebraska.
Source: www.berkshirehathaway.comGraduates from Nebraska
Buffett completed a business degree while running small entrepreneurial ventures.
Source: www.berkshirehathaway.comStudies under Benjamin Graham
At Columbia Business School he absorbed Graham’s value-investing framework.
Source: www.berkshirehathaway.comJoins Graham-Newman
Buffett worked as a securities analyst with Benjamin Graham and Walter Schloss.
Source: www.berkshirehathaway.comForms Buffett Partnership
He pooled capital from family and friends under performance-fee partnerships.
Source: www.berkshirehathaway.comMeets Charlie Munger
The friendship became a six-decade investing partnership that shifted Berkshire toward exceptional businesses.
Source: www.berkshirehathaway.comBegins buying Berkshire Hathaway
Buffett acquired shares in the struggling New England textile company.
Source: www.berkshirehathaway.comTakes control of Berkshire
The partnership gained control, and Buffett gradually redirected capital beyond textiles.
Source: www.berkshirehathaway.comNational Indemnity acquired
Insurance float became a core source of long-term investment capital.
Source: www.berkshirehathaway.comSee’s Candies deal
The acquisition demonstrated the value of brands and durable economics over statistical cheapness.
Source: www.berkshirehathaway.comInvests in The Washington Post Company
Berkshire built a major stake when the market value was far below Buffett’s assessment of the business.
Source: www.berkshirehathaway.comBuilds Coca-Cola stake
Berkshire invested more than one billion dollars in a global consumer franchise after the 1987 crash.
Source: www.berkshirehathaway.comBerkshire issues Class B shares
A lower-priced share class answered demand while resisting third-party unit trusts.
Source: www.berkshirehathaway.comPledges most wealth to philanthropy
Buffett committed annual gifts, principally to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and family foundations.
Connected: Bill Gates
Source: givingpledge.orgCEO succession approved
Buffett recommended Greg Abel, and Berkshire’s board unanimously appointed Abel to become CEO on 1 January 2026.
Source: www.berkshirehathaway.comRemains chairman as Abel becomes CEO
Greg Abel assumed the chief executive role while Buffett remained chairman and a major owner.
Source: www.berkshirehathaway.comExplore related timelines
This educational timeline is not endorsed by or affiliated with Warren Buffett or their representatives. Event text is original editorial copy based on the linked sources.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons contributor · Licence shown on source file
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About the Warren Buffett timeline
Who is Warren Buffett?
Warren Buffett transformed a textile company into a diversified group while writing extensively about owners, managers and long-term capital.
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This public timeline currently contains 18 sourced moments spanning 1930–.
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This public timeline is created and maintained by Memmie Editorial Team. Schools, clubs and cultural organisations can apply to become timeline partners.
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