Warren Buffett is an American business magnate, investor and philanthropist who has served as the chairman and chief executive officer of Berkshire Hathaway since 1970. He is considered one of the most successful investors in the world and, at the time of writing, is the third wealthiest person in America, with a net worth of $84 billion.

Buffett was born in Omaha and developed an interest in business and investing early on in his life, attending the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1947. He transferred to the University of Nebraska and attended the Columbia Business School where he molded an investment philosophy around the concept of value investing. He also attended the New York Institute of Finance to focus his economics background and soon after began various business partnerships.

He created the Buffett Partnership which acquired a textile manufacturing firm called Berkshire Hathaway and assumed its name to create a diversified holding company.

Buffett is a notable philanthropist, having pledged to give away 99 percent of his fortune to philanthropic causes, primarily via the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (Gates is the co-founder of Microsoft). Several years ago, Mike and I were walking through Seattle airport when we spied Buffett chatting to Bill and Melinda Gates with whom he is great friends. I am hoping that by some unlikely chance we will see Mr. Buffett while we are here in his home town, as I am a huge admirer of him and have wanted to meet him since I was about 20 having read his biography!

Buffett is frequently referred to in the media as the Wizard, Oracle or Sage of Omaha! He is noted for his frugality despite his immense wealth.