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Overview

Warren Buffett is one of the most famous investors in history. He’s known as the “Oracle of Omaha” or “Sage of Omaha.” He frequently appears on TV, sharing his opinions on business and politics. But few people know what he does day to day, and fewer still how he got to where he is today.

Warren Buffett is a successful businessman and investor. He’s one of the richest men in the world, and he has made some very smart decisions that have helped him become so successful. In this article, we examine his life from early childhood to current status as a business guru.

In this article, you’ll find out how Buffett made his first investment at age 11; what he did with the money he earned from that investment; and why his investments are like a snowball. You’ll also learn about some of the people who influenced him, such as Kay Graham and Bill Gates.

Big Idea #1: As a child, Warren Buffett found comfort and joy in statistics and numbers.

Warren Buffett was born in Omaha, Nebraska on August 20, 1930. He was 10 months old at the time of Black Tuesday which caused the Great Depression. His father sold stocks and bonds during that period to keep his family comfortable while many others were struggling financially. However, Warren’s life wasn’t easy growing up as a child during this time because he had to deal with challenges such as attending school with wealthier children who looked down on him for being poor.

His mother, Leila, was an overbearing parent who flew into rages. She would blame and shame her children for things that were not their fault.

Warren Buffett was stuck at home with his mother. She was often abrasive and unpredictable, which made Warren want to avoid her as much as possible. He found escape in numbers and statistics because they were predictable.

Warren Buffett was a huge fan of school. He liked the fact that it got him away from home and taught him more about math. School also gave him some free time to play with his friends, like Russ. Warren and Russ used to sit on Russ’s porch after school and count license plates as they drove by. They did this because they thought their notes could help catch bank robbers, since the street was the only way out of the local bank when robbing it.

Warren Buffett’s family recognized his love of numbers and encouraged him to pursue it. At the age of eight, he received a book on baseball statistics from his grandfather, which delighted Warren. He spent hours studying every detail in that book.

He got another gift from his aunt Alice: a book on the complex card game bridge. He became obsessed with it and spent time in the company of numbers, which were more comforting than his erratic mother.

Big Idea #2: Buffett began earning money and investing at a remarkably young age.

Warren Buffett was fascinated by numbers from a young age. He would make money selling things to his neighbors, such as gum and bottles of Coke. At the age of ten, he started working at football games selling peanuts.

Warren Buffett was inspired to make money when he read a book called “One Thousand Ways to Make $1,000” at the age of 10.

He was a determined child, and he proved it by saving $120 at age eleven. He used that money to invest in the stock market. He bought Cities Service Preferred three shares for him and three for his sister Doris.

In high school, he continued to work odd jobs. He sold golf balls and bought pinball machines that he rented out to barber shops. His wages really went up when he started delivering newspapers in Washington, DC after his family moved there.

Warren Buffett was a paperboy. He delivered papers on three different routes, one of which contained the apartments of several senators. Since he earned money based on how many subscriptions he sold, Warren worked hard to make sure that his customers paid him for their subscriptions.