Warren Buffett
Chairman, Berkshire Hathaway
Long-term value investing, immune to market euphoria. No faith in crypto — and nearly all of his fortune goes back to society.
Investor who led Berkshire Hathaway for six decades with a famously consistent long-term value philosophy. His skepticism toward cryptocurrency and his pledge to give away nearly all of his wealth make his public record one of the most stable among major figures.
Basis for the leaning assessment
Has endorsed Democratic presidential candidates including Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, and proposed the "Buffett Rule" tax on the wealthy. His economic views remain strongly pro-market, and he is generally described as center-left.
Current Stances
Stances are editorial interpretations, always shown with the statements and actions they rest on.
Skeptical of cryptocurrency
Has maintained since 2014 that Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have no intrinsic value.
Supporting statements & actions (2)
Stay away from it. It's a mirage, basically. (...) the idea that it has some huge intrinsic value is just a joke in my view.
On Bitcoin, after its first major price surge.
Bitcoin is probably rat poison squared.
At the first annual meeting after the 2017 crypto bubble.
"Rat poison squared" remains crypto Twitter's favorite thing to dunk on every bull run.
Committed to long-term value investing
Has maintained a contrarian, buy-and-hold philosophy for decades: buying when markets panic and turning cautious when they turn euphoric.
Supporting statements & actions (1)
A simple rule dictates my buying: Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful.
Published at the height of the financial crisis, disclosing that he was buying US stocks amid the panic.
Source: The New York Times op-ed, "Buy American. I'm Buying." ↗
Pledged to give away nearly all of his wealth
Since the 2010 Giving Pledge he has publicly committed more than 99% of his wealth to philanthropy and has made regular annual gifts ever since.
Supporting statements & actions (1)
Pledged in "My Philanthropic Pledge" to give more than 99% of his wealth to philanthropy during his lifetime or at death.
Co-launched the Giving Pledge with Bill and Melinda Gates, calling on the wealthy to commit the majority of their fortunes to philanthropy.
Goals
Short-term
Complete the CEO transition to Greg Abel
AchievedAnnounced at the May 2025 annual meeting. Abel took over as CEO in January 2026, completing the transition.
Declared: 2025-05-03Source ↗
Long-term
Give more than 99% of his wealth to philanthropy
ActivePledged in the 2010 Giving Pledge. He has followed through with regular annual gifts of Berkshire stock.
Declared: 2010-06-16Source ↗
Consistency Tracker
Does each new statement or decision square with the record? Verdicts are not accusations: both sides of the record are presented so readers can judge for themselves.
Earlier statement / action
Stay away from it. It's a mirage, basically. (...) the idea that it has some huge intrinsic value is just a joke in my view.
On Bitcoin, after its first major price surge.
Later statement / action
Bitcoin is probably rat poison squared.
At the first annual meeting after the 2017 crypto bubble.
"Rat poison squared" remains crypto Twitter's favorite thing to dunk on every bull run.
From "a mirage" in 2014 to "rat poison squared" in 2018, his position that cryptocurrency has no intrinsic value has been consistent.
Most-Cited Sources from Voterscommunity reading list
Articles readers attached to their poll votes as evidence. Only pages cited independently by two or more voters are listed.
- 1givingpledge.org/pledger ↗
Cited by 7 voters
Liberal 7 - 2www.cnbc.com/2018/05/05/warren-buffett-says-bitcoin-is-probably-rat-poison-squared.html ↗
Cited by 6 voters
Liberal 4Conservative 2 - 3www.nytimes.com/2008/10/17/opinion/17buffett.html ↗
Cited by 6 voters
Liberal 4Conservative 2 - 4en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffett_Rule ↗
Cited by 5 voters
Liberal 5 - 5en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_positions_of_Warren_Buffett ↗
Cited by 5 voters
Liberal 1Conservative 4 - 6en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giving_Pledge ↗
Cited by 4 voters
Liberal 4 - 7Conservative 4
Most-Discussed Moments
The statements and actions that set social media on fire — top 2, in chronological order. Every entry links to its source.
- 2018-05-05Speech
Bitcoin is probably rat poison squared.
At the first annual meeting after the 2017 crypto bubble.
"Rat poison squared" remains crypto Twitter's favorite thing to dunk on every bull run.
- 2025-05-03Action
Announced at the annual meeting that he would ask the board to have Greg Abel become CEO of Berkshire Hathaway at year-end 2025.
Announced his retirement as CEO after six decades, while indicating he would remain chairman.
The retirement announcement was the business story of 2025 — tributes flooded every platform.
Timeline of Statements & Actions5 records, newest first
Announced at the annual meeting that he would ask the board to have Greg Abel become CEO of Berkshire Hathaway at year-end 2025.
Announced his retirement as CEO after six decades, while indicating he would remain chairman.
The retirement announcement was the business story of 2025 — tributes flooded every platform.
Bitcoin is probably rat poison squared.
At the first annual meeting after the 2017 crypto bubble.
"Rat poison squared" remains crypto Twitter's favorite thing to dunk on every bull run.
Stay away from it. It's a mirage, basically. (...) the idea that it has some huge intrinsic value is just a joke in my view.
On Bitcoin, after its first major price surge.
Pledged in "My Philanthropic Pledge" to give more than 99% of his wealth to philanthropy during his lifetime or at death.
Co-launched the Giving Pledge with Bill and Melinda Gates, calling on the wealthy to commit the majority of their fortunes to philanthropy.
A simple rule dictates my buying: Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful.
Published at the height of the financial crisis, disclosing that he was buying US stocks amid the panic.
Source: The New York Times op-ed, "Buy American. I'm Buying." ↗