Farewell to the Oracle

• December 31, 2025
• Author - Niraj Shah

The best investment you can make is in yourself.” – Warren Buffett

He bought his first stock at 11, filed taxes at 13, and spent decades showing that integrity compounds like capital. As Warren Buffett steps down as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway on December 31, 2025, handing the reins to Greg Abel while remaining chairman, his influence endures forever. Buffett built a fortune not on Wall Street flash – high-frequency trades or derivatives, but on patience, clear thinking, and true value investing. He turned a fading textile company into a trillion-dollar powerhouse by buying businesses he understood deeply, from railroads to insurance. He skipped the dot-com frenzy because he didn’t get tech, yet later embraced Apple as a consumer giant, proving adaptability within his core principles.

His real legacy isn’t just Berkshire’s wealth; it’s the wisdom shared through shareholder letters, annual meetings (the famed “Woodstock for Capitalists”), and countless teachings. Buffett reshaped how we view investing: “Rule No. 1: Never lose money. Rule No. 2: Never forget Rule No. 1.” He proved ruthless capitalism can coexist with ethics, pledging 99% of his fortune to philanthropy. He pledged mostly through the Gates Foundation and family charities, arguing society enabled his success and deserves it back.

Key quotes that capture his essence:

“Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful.”
He lived it, pouring billions into Goldman Sachs and GE during the 2008 crisis.

“Price is what you pay. Value is what you get.”
A reminder to focus on intrinsic worth over market hype.

“It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it.”
Trust was his ultimate premium.

It is not just the forty thousand odd people like me who travel to Omaha to be in the same room as the great man. Warren naturally has admirers abound, across walks of life. Bill Gates credits him for tackling big problems effectively. In India, investors like Rakesh Jhunjhunwala and Raamdeo Agrawal hail his patience as the key skill and Prem Watsa called him unparalleled.

From Buffett and Charlie Munger, timeless lessons emerge. Invert problems, read relentlessly, build mental models across disciplines for better decisions. Beyond money, Buffett’s life advice shines, doesnt it? On success, he famously said “The only measure is how many people you want to love you, actually do.”

On work, he has always said that he has “Tap danced to work.” He never felt he worked a day. And on marriage, he has always said that “Your most important decision isn’t investing – it’s who you marry.”

As he shifts to bridge and Cherry Cokes, the world loses its daily Oracle but knows that it has gained endless wisdom.

Thank you, Warren for the wealth, but mostly for the insight.