Warren Buffett, 96, announced his departure as Berkshire Hathaway chairman, concluding a legendary career. Born in Omaha in 1930, Buffett purchased his first stock at age nine and spent decades building Berkshire Hathaway into a trillion-dollar juggernaut. A pivotal partnership with Charlie T.

Munger in 1959 shaped his investment philosophy, shifting focus to buying wonderful businesses at fair prices. His early acumen was evident in the 1963 American Express investment following the salad oil scandal. While he transformed Berkshire from a textile mill into a conglomerate, acquiring GEICO, Burlington Northern Santa Fe, and Dairy Queen, he also admitted significant missteps, notably the 1993 Dexter Shoe purchase, which he called his "most gruesome" error.

In 2006, Buffett pledged to donate the bulk of his fortune to the Gates Foundation and other charities. Though he promised no further gifts after his death, his legacy endures through the billions committed to philanthropy and the enduring empire he built.