Portrait of Bill Gates
Business · person
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Bill Gates on Warren Buffett

Close, admiring friend (strong)

TL;DR

Bill Gates deeply values his long-standing friendship with Warren Buffett, considering him an invaluable source of wisdom and laughter.

Key Points

  • He initially resisted meeting Warren Buffett in 1991, believing they would not share common ground.

  • Gates adopted a lesson from Buffett on time management, realizing that a stacked calendar is not a proxy for seriousness.

  • Buffett serves as an amazing thought partner to Bill and Melinda Gates in their foundation work as a trustee.

Summary

Bill Gates views Warren Buffett as one of his closest friends, one whose relationship has profoundly changed his life for the better by providing opportunities to learn and laugh more over a quarter-century. Initially, Gates was reluctant to meet Buffett in 1991, believing their interests as a technologist and an investor in paper assets would not align, but he was immediately impressed by Buffett's remarkably insightful questions about the software business. This initial meeting sparked a deep and enduring friendship, leading Gates to frequently seek his counsel on companies, world events, and philanthropic challenges through their foundation work.

Buffett’s influence on Gates extends to professional habits, as Gates learned a critical lesson about productivity after seeing Buffett’s intentionally sparse calendar; this starkly contrasted with Gates's initial belief that being busy equaled seriousness. Now, as a trustee of the Gates Foundation, Buffett serves as an essential thought partner. Gates consistently expresses immense admiration for Buffett's wisdom, his ability to nurture friendships, and his kind, thoughtful nature, often viewing him as a father figure despite their status as peers.

Key Quotes

business isn't a proxy for seriousness.

Frequently Asked Questions

Bill Gates holds Warren Buffett in extremely high regard, considering him a uniquely thoughtful and kind friend whose friendship has been instrumental in his life. He frequently cites Buffett as a major source of wisdom, both personally and professionally. Gates cherishes their ongoing conversations about business, world events, and innovation.

Bill Gates's view shifted dramatically from initial reluctance to deep admiration after their first meeting in 1991. He was initially hesitant to meet because he felt their interests in technology and paper assets were too different. However, he was quickly won over by Buffett's depth of thought, leading to a foundational, decades-long friendship.

One significant lesson Bill Gates learned from Warren Buffett was the importance of an uncrowded schedule for true productivity. Gates recalled being shocked by Buffett’s sparse calendar, which taught him that being constantly busy is not the same as being serious or productive. This realization prompted Gates to better structure his own time.