The 60 -year anniversary book by Berkshire Hathaway, which was seen on May 2, 2025 at the annual meeting of the annual shareholders in Berkshire in Omaha, Nebraska.
Alex Harring | CNBC
Omaha, next to it – Transpacific wire transfers. Checks that arrive unexpectedly by post. People who are ready and were ready to pay tens of thousands of dollars.
This was the scene in the months before and during Berkshire HathawayThe annual meeting last weekend. The chance of maintaining memorabilia that Warren Buffett, CEO by Legendary CEO, sent the shareholders on a crazy dashboard to take part in a quiet auction, while it turned out that it turned out to be a monumental meeting.
In true Buffett fashion, everything was for a local charity organization that served his home in Omaha.
The participants of the annual conference could buy an exclusive anniversary book with the title “60 years from Berkshire Hathaway” on site. 18 copies signed by Buffett and author Carrie Sova were only available via an auction in favor of Stephen Center, an animal shelter in which the city of Nebraska serves, in which Berkshire is headquartered.
Buffett promised to meet every dollar collected for the organization that offers programs to restore living space and addiction. According to Chris Knauf, CEO of the Stephen Center, the event collected more than $ 1.3 million after the 94-year-old's contribution.
“There are really no words that my and our gratitude can appropriately express for this incredible generosity,” Knauf told CNBC in an interview. “It is only phenomenal.”
In the first phase, eight books were auctioned online before the meeting with the highest bids of $ 100,000. Then 10 books were auctioned on Friday and Saturday during the event “Berkshire Bazaar of Bargains”. More than 50 offers came with a height of up to 60,000 US dollars.
The book took over an unexpected importance after Buffett shocked the investment world during the event with a surprising announcement that he was planning to withdraw the role of the CEO at the end of the year.
On May 3, 2025, Warren Buffett carried out a procedure for the annual meeting of the Berkshire Hathaway shareholders in Omaha, Nebraska.
David A. Groge | CNBC
Knauf said two additional signed books were set aside for donors who were friends with the late Charlie Munger. Buffett's long -standing business partner was prominently presented in the publication. This brought the total number of the signed copies to support the Stephen Center to 20.
One of the winning bidders was Matthew Rodriguez, a 43-year-old real estate professional. Rodriguez said he monitored the online ranking of the online auction and then pulled the deduction with a bid of 50,000 US dollars about 15 minutes before his closure.
“It will be a rather priceless artifact in my library,” said Rodriguez.
As a self -proclaimed “fan boy” by Buffett, Rodriguez said that he was enthusiastic about supporting an organization with the investor's billionaire stamp, and liked that any dollar that he could contribute matched. Since Rodriguez lives in Omaha, he was also familiar with the local impact of the Stephen Center.
Singapore cable
Rodriguez was one of several donors who quickly turned to the center after Buffett first announced the initiative in the company's annual shareholder letter, which was released in February. The “Oracle of Omaha” shared details on the book and the plan for the fundraising campaign for the local group in the letter, but did not expressly take the steps for obtaining a signed edition.
Before the shareholders found that there was an auction, some checks sent directly to the charity, if they came first, Knauf said. When Stephen Center called representatives to tell them about the process, some who did not intend to come to the meeting said to keep the money as donations, and quote their affection for Buffett, he said.
“What Mr. Buffett did for me what Mr. Buffett did for my family is immeasurable,” Knauf recalled in these conversations with the shareholders. “If we are least able to write a check about this charity, we want to do it.”
The Stephen Center ultimately collected more than 45,000 US dollars from donors that were bound by Buffett, and the annual meeting outside the auction. In addition to the financial support, Knauf said that he expects Buffett's selection of the center to contribute to the role of accommodation in local communities.
“We are a homeless shelter and a campus of addiction in Omaha, Nebraska,” said Knauf. “Have I ever thought that we would do wire transfers from Singapore? I didn't do it.”
The shareholders enter the event location in Omaha, Nebraska, USA, May 3, 2025 on the day of the annual shareholders of Berkshire Hathaway Inc.
Brendan McDermid | Reuters
Help the homeless
Part of the funds will help to support a renovation of the space program in an addiction restore program, said Knauf. Other donations are transferred to the construction of a women's and children's center, he said.
These plans come when the organization tries to help the growing community of unlawful people in Omaha, said Knauf. He pointed out data from an annual count that showed that the homeless population rose by almost 10% compared to the previous year. This described a particularly significant increase in families, children and seniors.
For the shareholder Jay Ji, this mission met near home after his family had economic problems as a child. The investment manager parked a bid of around $ 20,150 and visited the Stephen Center to see first-hand where the money would go.
“I just want to do my part,” said the 43-year-old. “I am more determined to find ways to ensure that … Fewer families experience this kind of difficulties and if possible provide some resources to help.”
In addition to the signed books, Buffett said in his famous annual question and answer meeting that Berkshire sold around 8,000 copies of the anniversary book at the meeting.
A legacy to return something
Also new in this year's meeting was a gigantic claw crane, which the shareholders could pay 10 US dollars for the chance to win prizes with the Berkshire holding companies. Benefits from the Crane Benefit Hope Center for Kids, an organization based in Omaha, which offers children after school and summer care.
Both efforts underline Buffett's decades of focus on non -profit donations. For more than two decades, Buffett had auctioned a private lunch in favor of the non -profit sliding function based in San Francisco. The last winner of this event in 2022 fired up more than 19 million US dollars. Taken together, the 21 lunch of the Berkshire CEO collected more than 53 million dollars.
The pilot -truck simulator, which can be seen on May 2, 2025 in the meeting of the annual shareholders in Berkshire Hathaway in Omaha, Nebraska.
Alex Harring | CNBC
Buffett has long committed to give 99% of his personal assets for charitable purposes. He argued against the creation of family assets by leaving colossal inheritances in a letter last year.
“I never wanted to create a dynasty or follow a plan that went beyond the children,” Buffett wrote in the letter. “I know the three well and trust them completely. In future, who can predict the priorities, intelligence and the loyalty of successive generations in order to deal with the distribution of exceptional wealth, which could be a completely different philanthropic landscape?”