With Warren Buffett set to retire at the end of 2025, it will mark the end of an era. The legendary investor and Berkshire Hathaway CEO will leave behind a rich legacy after six decades of leadership. However, what people in his workplace will remember him more for is his priceless wisdom. ‘The Oracle of Omaha’ leaves no opportunity to inspire people with his unique way of life.
Making way for his successor, Greg Abel, who will lead the $1.2 trillion empire, Buffett, in his farewell letter, shared unknown nuggets from his life, including secrets behind his ‘unexpected longevity‘.
Buffett wrote in his farewell letter how he’ll be ‘going quiet’ and no longer write Berkshire’s annual report, or talk ‘endlessly’ at the annual meeting.
Warren Buffett’s unconventional lifestyle
Buffett’s unconventional lifestyle has often made news over the years. From not counting calories to eating and sleeping like a child, the investing legend has proved that living life king size and staying happy is more important for living longer than just sticking to biohacking tricks or chasing fitness trends.
Secrets behind his long life
On his advancing age, Buffett, said in his farewell letter that it’s not the genetics but a team of dedicated Omaha doctors that are to be credited, combined with a generous dose of good luck.
“My genes haven’t been particularly helpful – the family’s all-time record for longevity (admittedly, family records get fuzzy as you work backwards) was 92 until I came along. But I have had wise, friendly and dedicated Omaha doctors, starting with Harley Hotz, and continuing to this day,” he wrote.
The billionaire also shared how his life was saved thrice courtesy the doctors who stay nearby.
“At least three times, my life has been saved, each with doctors based within a few miles from my home,” he noted.
Adding a sprinkle of his trademark humour, Buffett added that to reach an advanced age, one also needs a huge dose of good luck, “daily escaping banana peels, natural disasters, drunk or distracted drivers, lightning strikes, you name it.”
‘I generally feel good’
The legendary businessman says he generally feels good, even if he moves slowly and reads with increasing difficulty. Being at the office and working with a stellar team helps.
“To my surprise, I generally feel good. Though I move slowly and read with increasing difficulty, I am at the office five days a week where I work with wonderful people. Occasionally, I get a useful idea or am approached with an offer we might not otherwise have received. Because of Berkshire’s size and because of market levels, ideas are few – but not zero,” he wrote.
While he calls his longevity ‘unexpected’ or ‘exceptional luck’ in his farewell letter, the entrepreneur in an earlier interview noted that it’s happiness that makes him live long.
“I think happiness makes an enormous amount of difference…in terms of longevity. I’m happier when I’m eating hot fudge sundaes or drinking Coke,” Buffett said in a 2017 CNBC interview. Almost eight years after he said this, Buffett continues to be happy and content with what he does. Something that longevity aspirants should note.
