June 26, 200619 yr The Oracle of Omaha is giving away $37 of his estimated $44 billion fortune to charity. How incredible! http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=100...=top_world_news
June 26, 200619 yr He's only doing it for the tax writeoff..... I guess he ignored my email about the "Critic Wants A Bunch Of Expensive s*** Foundation".
June 26, 200619 yr QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Jun 26, 2006 -> 07:40 AM) The Oracle of Omaha is giving away $37 of his estimated $44 billion fortune to charity. How incredible! http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=100...=top_world_news DAMMIT!!! I can't believe he announced it on the same day I gave $37 of my $44 fortune to charity. Thanks for taking my thunder, Warren!
June 26, 200619 yr Author For history buffs, it is interesting to see the group of guys that has been portrayed as the Robber Barons of our generation start to mimic them even more, with many of them giving away huge amounts of wealth as they age, and even becoming socially consious while doing so. I wonder in 100 years if we will see as many places named after Gates and Buffett as we do after Carnangie today?
June 26, 200619 yr I used to live in Omaha, NE home of Buffet. I used to hear all types of good things about him. Many times he mowed his own lawn. You can just walk up to him on a normal day and chat.
June 26, 200619 yr That's awesome. Cheers to the Oracle of Omaha! I think its particularly interesting using the Gates foundation, just because of the parallels. Gates himself originally wasn't into the charitable stuff at all, until his wife nudged him into it. Buffett was, it appears, inspired by his wife as well.
June 26, 200619 yr QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Jun 26, 2006 -> 12:04 PM) That's awesome. Cheers to the Oracle of Omaha! I think its particularly interesting using the Gates foundation, just because of the parallels. Gates himself originally wasn't into the charitable stuff at all, until his wife nudged him into it. Buffett was, it appears, inspired by his wife as well. I can hear the conversation now: "Warren, honey, think of your legacy." *rolling around on bed covered in money* "Screw my legacy!" "Oh, Warren." *laugh track* I hope this money gets put to good use.
June 26, 200619 yr QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Jun 26, 2006 -> 12:50 PM) For history buffs, it is interesting to see the group of guys that has been portrayed as the Robber Barons of our generation start to mimic them even more, with many of them giving away huge amounts of wealth as they age, and even becoming socially consious while doing so. I wonder in 100 years if we will see as many places named after Gates and Buffett as we do after Carnangie today? I think, at least gauging from what I know about the Gate's charity, a lot of the money will go overseas (like the article said) for immunizations and basic health and life issues. I recently saw an interview with the Gates' and they are also big crusaders for reform in the US educational system, so we may see a lot of poor inner city and rural schools named after them.
June 27, 200619 yr On the news tonight they showed just what exactly 3 billion dollars a year is capable of doing if used right. It was quite stunning and gave a glimmer of hope to the future. Then they followed it up with a story about some terrorist acts overseas and it really came crashing back to reality. Whilst some wish to just help humanity, there will always be some asshole out to destroy it.
June 27, 200619 yr fantastic...cue john stossel complaining about how that money should have been reinvested in his own companies...
June 27, 200619 yr QUOTE(bmags @ Jun 26, 2006 -> 11:09 PM) fantastic...cue john stossel complaining about how that money should have been reinvested in his own companies... Wait.... Somebody gives a s*** about John Stossel?!
June 27, 200619 yr Author QUOTE(Kid Gleason @ Jun 26, 2006 -> 11:05 PM) On the news tonight they showed just what exactly 3 billion dollars a year is capable of doing if used right. It was quite stunning and gave a glimmer of hope to the future. Then they followed it up with a story about some terrorist acts overseas and it really came crashing back to reality. Whilst some wish to just help humanity, there will always be some asshole out to destroy it. They said the $37 billion could feed 350 million people or about 6-7% of the planet for an entire year.
June 27, 200619 yr QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Jun 27, 2006 -> 07:30 AM) They said the $37 billion could feed 350 million people or about 6-7% of the planet for an entire year. You know, now that I think about it, here is an idea for a grand experiment. Take that $37 billion, and fund a small, poor African country for a few years... entirely. Seriously. Budget the country for that period. Food and health care, a few roads built, some infrastructure, etc. One huge, focused push for one country. See where it goes.
June 27, 200619 yr QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Jun 27, 2006 -> 07:30 AM) They said the $37 billion could feed 350 million people or about 6-7% of the planet for an entire year. Bet you could feed more if you took them to Old Country Buffet. I hear that place has killer deals.
June 27, 200619 yr I really wish more people would adopt his philosophy: I earned my money, I'm going to make my children and grandchildren earn it too!
June 27, 200619 yr QUOTE(Athomeboy_2000 @ Jun 27, 2006 -> 03:04 PM) I really wish more people would adopt his philosophy: I earned my money, I'm going to make my children and grandchildren earn it too! I think he's not donating like 7 billion dollars.
June 27, 200619 yr Author QUOTE(Soxy @ Jun 27, 2006 -> 02:18 PM) I think he's not donating like 7 billion dollars. I was just going to say that... I think the kids will be OK. Plus not all of the money Buffett is donating is going to the Gates Foundation, a good chunk of change is going to his kids and grandkids own charitable orgainizations.
June 28, 200619 yr QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Jun 27, 2006 -> 02:04 PM) You know, now that I think about it, here is an idea for a grand experiment. Take that $37 billion, and fund a small, poor African country for a few years... entirely. Seriously. Budget the country for that period. Food and health care, a few roads built, some infrastructure, etc. One huge, focused push for one country. See where it goes. surely they'll go corrupt and lazy! greeeeen
June 28, 200619 yr I think he said that he wanted to leave his kids enough money so they could do anything, but not so much that they could do nothing.
June 28, 200619 yr QUOTE(CrimsonWeltall @ Jun 27, 2006 -> 11:08 PM) I think he said that he wanted to leave his kids enough money so they could do anything, but not so much that they could do nothing. And that's how it should be. Good for him.
June 28, 200619 yr Author QUOTE(shoota @ Jun 27, 2006 -> 06:09 PM) How did he make his fortune, and are there any good books on his rise? Are you serious?
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