$19 million bid wins auction for lunch with Warren Buffett

A lucky, and probably rich, person offered more than $19 million (about 98 million reais) to dinner with Warren Buffett, in the 21st and last time the billionaire entrepreneur has auctioned off a private lunch to benefit a São Paulo charity. Francis (USA).

The winning bid in the eBay auction that ended Friday night far surpassed the previous record of $4.57 million paid in 2019 by cryptocurrency entrepreneur Justin Sun, although the identity of the new winner is still unclear. has been revealed.

Proceeds benefit Glide, a non-profit organization in San Francisco that helps the poor, the homeless or those struggling with substance abuse. The institution offers meals, shelter, HIV and hepatitis C testing, job training and programs for children.

Buffett, 91, chairman and chief executive of Berkshire Hathaway, raised more than $53.2 million for Glide in 21 auctions, which began in 2000.

An eBay spokeswoman said the lunch was the most expensive item ever sold on the company’s website to benefit charities. No auctions were held in 2020 and 2021 because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Buffett became a supporter of Glide after his first wife, Susan, who died in 2004, introduced him to the charity, where she volunteered.

The billionaire also pledged to donate almost all of his fortune, valued at about $93.4 billion, ranking seventh in the world, according to Forbes magazine.

This year’s auction winner and up to seven guests will dine with Buffett at Smith & Wollensky steakhouse in Manhattan. The entrepreneur will talk about almost everything, but not about his next investments.

Investment fund managers David Einhorn and Ted Weschler are among the winners of previous auctions. Weschler became a Berkshire portfolio manager after paying $5.25 million to win the 2010 and 2011 auctions.

Berkshire owns dozens of companies, including the BNSF railroad, insurance company Geico, energy companies, manufacturing and retail businesses, as well as stocks in companies including Apple and Bank of America.

Buffett still owns nearly 16% of the Omaha, Nebraska-based conglomerate, despite giving away more than half of his shares since 2006, including $4 billion as of June 14.