A lunch with Warren Buffett auctioned on eBay was worth $250,100 to the guy who runs New York hedge fund Greenlight Capital, David Einhorn, in 2003, and last year the winning bid was $351,100.Why does the second richest man in the world want you to buy him a lunch?
Well, the lunch is a yearly charity event that started in 2000. The proceeds go to the Glide Foundation, a San Francisco nonprofit organization. The Glide Foundation runs 86 programs including feeding the homeless, working with children of drug addicts and rehabilitating gang members.
The winner of the auction will join seven other people for a lunch courtesy of Smith & Wollensky in one of their upscale steakhouses in New York. Together they will share a lunch and a private conversation with Buffett.
Warren Buffett is the world's second-richest man after Bill Gates and his personal worth is estimated at over $40 billion. If people buy one share of Berkshire Hathaway Class A for $90,000, or pay $3,000 for Class B just to be allowed in the annual share holder meeting with Warren Buffett, then it shouldn't surprise anyone that people bid hundreds of thousands of dollars for a more private audience with "the sage of Omaha".
The lunch auction should begin June 22 on eBay at a starting bid of $25,000. We will be monitoring the auction closely and wish good luck to all those who put in a bid.











Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-21-2006 @ 11:40AM
margaret nicowski said...
I cant bid 250,000.00 for lunch with warren buffett but would love to play gin with him .
6-21-2006 @ 12:33PM
david 12 said...
$250,000 can be a lot of money to some and a drop in a bucket or spit in the ocean. The money part is all relative. Relative to what it might cost to obtain such key advice/experience in the financial market where Warren Buffett has proven track record. Personally, I can not afford to pay that much but the money is going to a good charitable cause so God bless Warren and those who pay the lunch tab.
David12
6-22-2006 @ 2:56PM
Wayne Parsons said...
I may be barking up the wrong tree here, but here goes. Actually, I am interested in inviting Mr. Buffet to come and visit one of his newest aquirements(Forest River Inc.)I understand his way of thinking in as much as leaving the old regime in command as long as the money keeps rolling in, but I wonder just how much he cares about the people. Taking care of his good employees insures that they in turn take care of his interest.We at Forest River have been over the years paid quite well, in that we have no beef. But as far as airing out any differences with upper managment, all falls on deaf ears.I have been with this company for ten years. I see great things down the road. But there are some issues that most of the employees here would love to have answersed.As I said in the beginning, I am most likely barking up the wrong tree! So if someone would kindly redirect my barking, I'd greatly appreciate it!
6-26-2006 @ 1:58AM
Junor Brown said...
I would like to see these rich guy's take a challenge toward charity, When thay give money to large nonprofit foundation, The money get lost in the shuffle, My suggestion is picking ten person at random who have lost everything they own threw some disaster or badluck, (as myself) Then helping them with a $50,000. to $100.00.and monitor them for 2 years then have them donate 10 to 20% of ther growth to charity, People like us have no recourse because the bank do not help us, Bank do not help people who need money, they only help people who have money. If you have a low cridet score you will not get a loan. I dont no if I over step my bounds but if so I apologies.
6-26-2006 @ 3:21AM
Colonel Jeffrey S. Kepler, Ariborne Ranger said...
I bid one dollar, on the condition that I pledge to commit 10% of my income, compiled at that rate compiled each month for the rest of my life.
After three purple hearts, silver star, two bronze stars, and several other minor medals that no one seems to care about, as soon as I can aquire a position that reflects my abilities I will do this as God is my witness and also to the oath I took as an officer and a gentleman.
With All Respect,
Jeffrey S. Kepler
6-26-2006 @ 5:24AM
colette said...
bonjour,
je suis de la suisse, une maman en retraite, je n ai pas beaucoup d argent, j aurai tant souhaité offrir une maison à mes deux enfants. J'avoue être prétentieuse d oser vous écrire mais vu votre richesse acquise par votre travail, peut être pour
vous un certain montant ne répercutera sur votre fortune.
je vous souhaite une excellente journée
6-26-2006 @ 8:38AM
Dr. and Ms. Albert E. Hensel, Jr. said...
Hands for Healing International(HFH) is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Alexandria, LA. HFH mission is to effectively and efficiently assist the poor, sick, incarcerated, homeless and those bound by addictions to overcome obstacles and become reputable, productive members in their society. HFH seeks to link business experience, technicle expertise, and financial resources in a way that produces competent and compassionate people who are employing the poor in the community.
HFH International is providing humanitarian assistance to those in need worldwide regardless of race, ethnicity, political or religious affiliation.
HFH is comprised of a diverse group of professionals and skilled volunteers. We offer education, training, counseling, and other assistance.
We are combining our efforts and assisting Mercy Medical Network on humanitarian assistance and catastrophic events.
We would appreciate your help and assistance in this worthy cause.
Dr. Albert E Hensel
Fundraising Chair
6-27-2006 @ 7:23AM
satyatej devunuri said...
to day i saw in news paper about mr.buffets cordial donation for gates foundation thank god really its a heart touching matter .may the funds be used to several social organisations. iam looking for a key board which can be used in my church for my son about 10 years ,he playes key board in sunday school on a small key board which is not suffiecient.i cordially request mr buffet why could't you provide a little gift to my child to serve god inthis age with given gifts.sorry a key board is a drop of water while camparing with ur donation. may god bless u ,by bro.satyatej,india.
6-29-2006 @ 10:25PM
babbling said...
This is a perfect case for the prince will become king. Who among us common people could easily throw out hundreds of thousand dollars for a lunch, no matter how we respect Mr. Buffett and willing to walk for miles to come to see him. I guess his money will go to good cause, and that satisfies him as enough charity, but how about us middle class people, the middle child of the soceity? Who gives a darn on helping us out? I think Mr. Buffett would be alot more charity if he gives us common people more advises instead of selling these at such nonsense prices.
6-30-2006 @ 4:41AM
Kelley Ritchey said...
It's for charity, so I expected a well heeled hedge fund manager to offer some chump change to chat with Buffett.
Buffet has also lunched with a lot of MBA types basically for free. He likes a good steak- Smith & Wollensky has pleny of those to serve up.
6-30-2006 @ 11:36AM
Jaime Bronke said...
I quite agree with the gentalman who is an employee of Forest River Inc. As I am one myself. We have yet to see any person or persons from Berkshire Hathaway come even near any one of our 90 some plants stategicaly located across this great country. Most of are middle class working individuals just now getiing comfortable in life and then there are working single mothers just trying to live off of a Forest River Inc. paycheck . As of which I am not complaning in the least. I love my job and even though I make little, It gives me pleasure to come to work for such a fine company. As to which I think Mr. Buffett should visit one day. I am sure he would be very surprised to see how we do business around here, Thank you for an ear Jaime Bronke
US Cargo/Haulin