It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you'll do things differently.

In 1998 in an unusual move he acquired General Re (Gen Re) for stock. Buffett was raised Presbyterian but has since described himself as agnostic. Buffett has written several times of his belief that in a market economy the rich earn outsized rewards for their talents:

His children will not inherit a significant proportion of his wealth.

He is widely considered the most successful investor of the 20th century. Buffett is the primary shareholder chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway and consistently ranked among the world's wealthiest people.