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  • Warren Buffett’s Final Thanksgiving Letter: A Historic Farewell from the Oracle of Omaha

    Warren Buffett’s Final Thanksgiving Letter: A Historic Farewell from the Oracle of Omaha

    On November 10, 2025, Berkshire Hathaway released an 8-page document that instantly became one of the most important shareholder letters in the history of American capitalism.

    This is not just another annual report update. This is Warren Buffett’s official retirement announcement at age 95, his last direct message to shareholders, and the clearest blueprint yet for the future of his $1 trillion empire and his remaining $150+ billion fortune.

    In one sweeping move, Buffett converted 1,800 Class A shares into 2.7 million Class B shares and donated them immediately — the largest single-day charitable gift in Berkshire history:

    • 1.5 million B shares → The Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation
    • 400,000 B shares each → The Sherwood Foundation, Howard G. Buffett Foundation, and NoVo Foundation

    That’s over $13 billion at today’s prices, delivered the same day.

    The End of an Era

    In his trademark folksy style, Buffett declares: “I will no longer be writing Berkshire’s annual report or talking endlessly at the annual meeting. As the British would say, I’m ‘going quiet.’ Sort of.”

    He confirms what insiders have known for years: Greg Abel takes over as CEO at year-end 2025. Buffett’s praise is unequivocal: “I can’t think of a CEO, a management consultant, an academic, a member of government — you name it — that I would select over Greg to handle your savings and mine.”

    The Most Personal Letter Ever Written by a Billionaire

    Unlike any previous letter, this one is deeply autobiographical. Buffett recounts:

    • Nearly dying at age 8 from a burst appendix in 1938
    • Fingerprinting Catholic nuns during recovery (and fantasizing about helping J. Edgar Hoover catch a “criminal nun”)
    • Missing Charlie Munger by a whisker — Munger worked at Buffett’s grandfather’s grocery store in 1940; Warren took the same $2-for-10-hours job in 1941
    • Living one block away from Munger, six blocks from future Berkshire legends, and across the street from Coca-Cola president Don Keough — all without knowing it

    His conclusion? “Can it be that there is some magic ingredient in Omaha’s water?”

    Lady Luck, Father Time, and the Acceleration of Giving

    At 95, Buffett is blunt about aging: “Father Time, to the contrary, now finds me more interesting as I age. And he is undefeated.”

    He acknowledges his children (Susie, Howie, and Peter — ages 72, 70, and 67) are entering the zone where “the honeymoon period will not last forever.” To avoid the chaos of post-mortem estate battles, he is accelerating lifetime gifts at warp speed while keeping enough A shares to ease the transition to Greg Abel.

    Most powerful line on wealth and luck:

    “I was born in 1930 healthy, reasonably intelligent, white, male and in America. Wow! Thank you, Lady Luck.”

    Warnings to Corporate America

    Buffett eviscerates CEO pay inflation, dementia in the C-suite, and dynastic wealth. Highlights:

    • CEO pay-disclosure rules “produced envy, not moderation”
    • Boards must fire CEOs who develop dementia — he and Munger failed to act several times
    • Berkshire will never tolerate “look-at-me rich” or dynastic CEOs

    Why This Document Will Be Studied for Centuries

    This letter is the capitalist equivalent of a papal encyclical. It combines:

    • A formal leadership handoff after 60 years
    • The largest ongoing wealth transfer in history
    • A philosophical treatise on luck, aging, kindness, and corporate governance
    • A love letter to Omaha and middle America
    • Buffett’s final ethical will: “Decide what you would like your obituary to say and live the life to deserve it.”

    Business schools will teach this. Biographers will mine it. Investors will quote it for decades.

    Download the full PDF here: Warren Buffett Thanksgiving Letter 2025 (PDF)

    As Buffett signs off:

    “I wish all who read this a very happy Thanksgiving. Yes, even the jerks; it’s never too late to change.”

    The Oracle has spoken — one last time. And the world is listening.

  • Mastering Generational Wealth: A Step-by-Step Guide

    Generational wealth refers to the accumulation of wealth and assets that are passed down from one generation to the next. It is the ability of a family to maintain and grow their wealth over multiple generations, allowing future generations to have financial stability and the opportunity to build upon the foundations laid by their ancestors.

    There are several key factors that contribute to the creation and preservation of generational wealth. The first is a strong work ethic and a commitment to saving and investing. Families who are able to consistently save a portion of their income and invest it in assets such as real estate, stocks, and bonds are more likely to build wealth over time. Additionally, having a clear financial plan and setting long-term financial goals can help families stay focused and on track.

    Another important factor is education and knowledge about personal finance and investing. Families who have a good understanding of how money works and how to make it work for them are more likely to make smart financial decisions and avoid common pitfalls. This includes understanding the difference between good and bad debt, the importance of diversifying investments, and the power of compound interest.

    Another important aspect of building and preserving wealth is the ability to manage risks effectively. This means being able to identify potential financial risks and having a plan in place to mitigate them. This can include having an emergency fund, adequate insurance coverage, and a diversified investment portfolio.

    Another important aspect of maintaining wealth is estate planning. Proper estate planning can help ensure that assets are passed down to the next generation in an efficient and tax-advantaged manner. This can include things like creating a will, setting up trusts, and creating a plan for the distribution of assets.

    Another key element of maintaining wealth is having a sense of purpose and values. Families who have a clear sense of purpose and values are more likely to make decisions that align with those values, which can help them stay focused on the things that are truly important and avoid distractions that can lead to financial losses.

    Finally, it is important to remember that building and preserving wealth is a marathon, not a sprint. It takes time, patience, and discipline to accumulate and maintain wealth over multiple generations. Families who are able to stay the course and make consistent, smart financial decisions over time are more likely to be successful.

    Generational wealth is the accumulation of wealth and assets that are passed down from one generation to the next. Building and preserving wealth over multiple generations requires a strong work ethic, a commitment to saving and investing, a good understanding of personal finance and investing, the ability to manage risks effectively, proper estate planning, a sense of purpose and values and patience and discipline. It takes time, but with the right approach and mindset, families can create a legacy of wealth that will benefit future generations.