Warren Buffett, the legendary investor, has been known for his cautious stance on technology for most of his life. It took him several years to get an iPhone, and he still has others handle his emails. However, when it comes to online videos, he is keeping up with the times.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Buffett enjoys watching speeches by lesser-known individuals. He is also a fan of Berkshire Hathaway’s in-house YouTube channel. He watches it almost every evening, usually lounging in his Omaha home.
“Warren’s interests are very diverse,” said his friend Sharon Osberg, who often watches online videos with him. “He likes a variety of things, some of which are even silly.”
Like us, Buffett also delves into some quirky things occasionally. The next day, he might walk into the office and talk endlessly about a touching rendition of “My Way” performed by an amateur artist.
“My Way” is a globally renowned English pop song, with the most famous version recorded and released by the iconic American singer Frank Sinatra in 1969. The lyrics reflect a person looking back at their life with pride and firm affirmation of their independent and unapologetic attitude towards life (“I did it my way”).
In the office, Buffett is known for meticulously studying annual reports to find clues for profitable investments. He starts his day by watching CNBC for American consumer news and business updates. By night, his time is entirely dedicated to YouTube. Friends say Buffett’s YouTube content is hardly related to investments or finance, which they find intriguing.
In January of this year, Buffett stepped down as CEO of the company but remains involved in investment decisions. Over the past year, Berkshire Hathaway has become a major shareholder of YouTube’s parent company Alphabet, holding about $38 billion worth of shares.
Friends say that Buffett’s binge-watching of online videos usually revolves around his lifelong interests: musicals, railroads, the big band era, Nebraska, and Frank Sinatra’s early performances from the 1930s.
Buffett also enjoys other forms of entertainment, especially Turner Classic Movies (TCM). The channel sometimes airs Buffett’s all-time favorite movie “12 Angry Men” starring Henry Fonda, who is also a local from Omaha. This black-and-white American drama film from 1957 won the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival and received multiple Oscar nominations.
Some might be surprised that this legendary investor spends nights watching clips of Bill Murray’s movies, including his beloved “Lost in Translation.” Bill Murray is a renowned American actor, comedian, writer, and producer. “Lost in Translation” (2003) marked a turning point for him, earning him the Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy at the 61st Golden Globe Awards and an Oscar nomination for Best Actor.
Buffett sometimes has personal relationships with these performers, which could explain his love for movies. Murray is a longtime shareholder of Berkshire Hathaway and has attended the company’s annual shareholders’ meetings.
Buffett is not the only legendary investor who relaxes with unexpected pastimes. His long-time partner and friend, the late Charlie Munger, enjoyed watching an episode of “Seinfeld” or reading a good book to unwind at the end of the day.
“I like to watch a bunch of self-centered people make the wrong decisions,” Munger once said.
“Seinfeld” is a classic American sitcom aired by NBC. The show focuses on mundane daily life situations in New York City, with no grand plotlines or overt moral lessons, drawing humor from trivialities like waiting in line, finding parking spots, and awkward social interactions.