The Berkshire Hathaway chairman, whose net worth now sits at roughly $147 billion, told CNBC in an interview published Wednesday that chance, not just skill, has been a defining force behind his career.
“Out of eight billion people, I may be one of the 10 luckiest in the world,” Buffett said.
Ahead of his 96th birthday next month, Buffett pointed to his health and longevity as examples of that good fortune. “I’m losing marbles at this point. I accumulated marbles for a longer time than I deserved.” he said. “That’s just a matter of luck.”
The “Oracle of Omaha” has frequently argued that structural advantages matter as much as talent. In a 2024 letter to Berkshire shareholders, Buffett credited his success in part to being born in the U.S., as well as to the societal advantages of being a white male.
Buffett’s early exposure to investing also played a pivotal role. His father, Howard Homan Buffett, was a stockbroker who introduced him to the stock market at a young age. At just 11, Buffett purchased his first stock, buying three shares of Cities Service at $38 each.
“Fortunately I got exposed, partly accidentally, to what I liked to do very early on, and that was just an accident,” Buffett told CNBC. “If my father had been a plumber, I would not have.”
Buffett currently ranks as the world’s 10th-richest person, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. He stepped down as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway late last year but remains actively involved. After a decades-long career that began with earning his first million at age 32, Buffett tapped Vice Chairman Greg Abel as his successor.