Born in 1930, Warren Edward Buffett is widely regarded as the most successful investor of the 20th century. He is the primary shareholder of Berkshire Hathaway and was ranked as the world’s wealthiest person in 2008, with a net worth exceeding 73 billion USD.

Warren Buffett's Background -The "Oracle of Omaha" and Master of Value Investing

Born on August 30, 1930, in Omaha, Nebraska, Warren Edward Buffett is universally celebrated as the greatest investor of the 20th and 21st centuries. With a net worth exceeding $130 billion (as of 2024), he has consistently ranked among the world’s wealthiest individuals, peaking as the #1 richest person in 2008 with a fortune of $73 billion. His disciplined, long-term approach to investing through Berkshire Hathaway has made him a living legend in finance.

Education & Mentorship Under Benjamin Graham

• Attended the University of Nebraska at 16, then Columbia Business School, where he studied under Benjamin Graham, the father of value investing.

• Graham’s philosophy—"Buy stocks for less than their intrinsic value"—became the foundation of Buffett’s strategy.

The Rise of Berkshire Hathaway

• 1962: Buffett began buying shares of a struggling textile company, Berkshire Hathaway, initially as a classic value play.

• 1965: Took control and transformed it into a holding company for investments in insurance (Geico), railroads (BNSF), consumer brands (Coca-Cola, See’s Candies), and energy (MidAmerican).

• Long-Term Compounding: A $1,000 investment in Berkshire in 1965 would be worth over $30 million today.

Key Investments

• Coca-Cola (1988): Invested $1.3 billion; now worth approximately $25 billion.

• Apple (2016): Built a $160 billion stake, calling it "the best business I know."

• American Express, Bank of America, & Others: Buffett’s "buy and hold forever" strategy outperformed short-term speculation.

Warren Buffett's Tips for Investors

1. Buy only something that you'd be perfectly happy to hold if the market shut down for 10 years. If you don't feel comfortable owning something for 10 years, then don't own it for 10 minutes.

2. I will tell you how to become rich. Close the doors. Be fearful when others are greedy. Be greedy when others are fearful.

3. Uncertainty is the friend of the buyer of long-term values. Have the purchase price be so attractive that even a mediocre sale gives good results. The future is never clear, and you pay a very high price in the stock market for a cheery consensus. 

4. Investors should remember that excitement and expenses are their enemies. And if they insist on trying to time their participation in equities, they should try to be fearful when others are greedy and greedy only when others are fearful.

5. Limit What You Borrow: Living on credit cards and loans won't make you rich.

6. Price is what you pay; value is what you get. It is far better to buy a wonderful company at a fair price than a fair company at a wonderful price.

7. I am a better investor because I am a businessman, and a better businessman because I am no investor.

8. Wide diversification is only required when investors do not understand what they are doing.

9. Reinvest Your Profits: When you first make money in the stock market, you may be tempted to spend it. Don't. Instead, reinvest the profits.

10. It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you'll do things differently.

■ Warren Buffett Trading Tips

Forex-Investors.com (c)