Robertson
Taylor Robertson
Dr. Carlisle
Composition I
Dec. 6, 2013
Warren Buffett: The Monarch of Capitalism
When people think about a triple threat containing the qualities of a market visionary, a
philanthropist, and a multibillionaire, Warren Buffett, the CEO of the ever-successful Berkshire
Hathaway, automatically comes to mind. He has been called the Oracle of Omaha for his almost
uncanny ability to predict the movements and fluctuations of the stock market. Those who have
always had a great interest in the market of Warren Buffett’s choice, as well as an interest in
finance in general, have found that he is one of it’s seminal visionaries. Warren Buffett, based on
his success as a businessman and in his personal integrity, is truly a remarkable man. His being
remarkable is evident in his work as an investor, his work as a philanthropist, and his work as a
man of humility. Warren Buffett is a person who, despite his vast wealth and power, has
remained a humble man. Warren Buffett has totally redefined what it means to be an investor in
both world outlook and method.
Warren Buffett, born August 30, 1930, was a man destined for success. When he was just
a young boy he displayed a natural entrepreneurial spirit. He used to go door-to-door around his
neighborhood peddling Coca Cola, chewing gum and weekly magazines (“Warren Buffett”). He
would purchase the supplies in bulk to achieve a discount and then resell it at a slightly higher
price to make a profit. His neighbors purchased from him because the costs of the products were
less expensive if they would have purchased them elsewhere. Buffett did not stop there; he
started investing at the early age 11, started to run a small business at the age of 13, and enrolled
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in the University of Pennsylvania to study business at the age of 16 (“Warren Buffett”). This
latent acumen in his childhood is indicative of the success he would have during his adult life.
Warren Buffett was not, however, just a traditionally successful investor. He was more than even
a highly successful investor; Warren Buffett totally changed the game of investing. His investing
strategy was aptly called ‘value investing’ (Ramaswamy 5). It was not an overly complex,
mathematically intensive system; value investing simply advocated inserting capital into
undercapitalized companies. Warren Buffett did not dabble in arbitrage, he did not sell short
stocks, and he never invested in a stock that had artificial value or a management team that he
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