Warren Buffett, the seventh-richest person on the planet, turns 94 years old today.
Hailed as one of the most successful investors of all time, Buffett made his first stock purchase at just 11 years old in Omaha and now boasts a net worth of over $148 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Buffett's acclaim is well-deserved as the chair of Berkshire Hathaway, which just two days ago became the first non-tech U.S. company to join the $1 trillion club.
One might expect that someone leading such a massive conglomerate since 1970 would adhere to a healthy diet to maintain his vitality.
Surprisingly, many would consider Buffett’s eating habits quite the opposite.
“I eat like a 6-year-old,” the CEO famously told Fortune in 2015, describing his love for Utz potato sticks and daily intake of five 12-ounce Coca-Colas. “If I eat 2,700 calories a day, a quarter of that is Coca-Cola. I do it every day.”
In a 2017 HBO documentary called Becoming Warren Buffett, the billionaire revealed he stops at McDonald’s every day for a $3.17 breakfast made up of one of three items: two sausage patties; a sausage, egg, and cheese; or a bacon, egg, and cheese. Which he, of course, enjoys with a Coke.
For lunch, the business tycoon often stops by Dairy Queen for a chili-cheese dog and an ice cream sundae with cherry syrup and chopped nuts, and frequently snacks on See’s Candies. Buffett is also known for his excessive use of salt, so much so that former Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf compared it to a “snowstorm.”
Fellow billionaire Bill Gates has seen the investor’s childlike eating habits up close, too. In a 2017 Reddit Ask Me Anything post, Gates recounted how Buffett stayed at his house and had Oreos for breakfast. “He mostly eats hamburgers, ice cream, and Coke,” Gates wrote. “He may set a poor example for young people, but it's a diet that somehow works for him,” the Microsoft founder added.
So, how does the Oracle of Omaha, now just six years shy of 100, stay sharp and manage a vast empire while (over)indulging in junk food? The answer may lie in his other daily habits.
1. He gets 8 hours of sleep
Unlike the early-rising CEOs, Buffett values his sleep. “I have no desire to get to work at four in the morning,” he said in a 2017 interview with PBS News Hour. “I like to sleep,” he added. “So I will usually sleep eight hours a night.”
Good sleep can extend your life, as noted by a study at the American College of Cardiology conference. Stanford professor Andrew Huberman agrees, highlighting its role in stress relief, immune support, and emotional stability.
2. He plays “a lot” of bridge
Despite having to run a company with over 70 subsidiaries, Buffett makes sure to allot eight hours of his week to play multiple hands of bridge with his friends. “I play a lot,” Buffett told the Washington Post.
“You are seeing a different intellectual challenge every seven minutes. It’s the best exercise there is for the brain,” he added. Buffett may be on to something. According to a major 10-year study published in the British Medical Journal, playing cards at least twice a week could help keep your memory sharp into old age.
3. He keeps his schedule light
Buffett may be one of the most powerful businessmen on the planet, but unlike other CEOs, he likes to keep his calendar rather light.
In a 2017 interview with Bloomberg, Gates said one of the lessons he had learned from the Oracle of Omaha was the beauty of a free schedule, revealing that there were days on Buffett’s calendar where “there’s nothing on.”
“I pretty much don’t do anything I don’t like to do,” Buffett told the attendees of Berkshire Hathaway’s 2001 annual meeting. “I’m very fortunate in that…I’m pretty much in command of my own time, but I have a lot of fun doing it.”
4. He loves to read
Buffett spends five to six hours a day reading and thinking. “I find it enjoyable to think about business or investment problems,” he said in HBO’s documentary.
It's an important way to spend time. According to a 14-year study published in the National Institute of Health, engaging in reading can prevent cognitive decline.
5. He counts his blessings
At Berkshire Hathaway’s 2008 annual meeting, Buffett was asked about his secret to good health. He plopped a candy in his mouth and quipped, “Well, you start with a balanced diet,” drawing laughter from the audience.
As he sat next to his vice chair Charlie Munger, who passed at age 99 last year, Buffett continued, “If Charlie and I can’t have a decent mental attitude, who can? We’ve great partners, great managers, great families. How could you be sour about life being blessed in so many ways?”
Research shows that practicing gratitude can reduce depression, anxiety, chronic pain, and disease.
6. He knows the importance of loving relationships
For healthy aging, your relationships are more important than diet or exercise. An 85-year longitudinal study from Harvard found they are the biggest contributors to a longer, happier life.
Buffett agrees: “When you get to my age, you’ll really measure your success in life by how many of the people you want to have love you actually do love you.”
The ultimate lesson
The biggest lesson from Warren Buffett isn’t his stock picks or market maneuvers—it's his childlike spirit and focus on doing what he loves. Now, you don’t have to become a competitive bridge player or drink Coke daily to follow his example. Instead, savor the present and do what truly makes you happy.
As Buffett said in a 2017 CNBC interview, “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.”
More on aging well:
- Staying fit as you age isn't just about exercise. Experts say to prioritize these 4 habits
- Tennis players may live 10 years longer. How the sport boosts health
- 4 ways women can make the most of their ‘longevity bonus’
- How to increase your odds of becoming a ‘SuperAger’
