Warren Buffett, the chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, stands as one of the most successful investors globally. With a net worth exceeding $156 billion as of February 2025, Buffett, also known as the "Oracle of Omaha," has built a reputation not only for his investment acumen but also for his disciplined daily routine and simple lifestyle. This article delves into the daily habits and routines that underpin Buffett's extraordinary success.
A Creature of Habit: Simplicity and Consistency
Buffett is known for his consistent habits. Born and raised in Omaha, he still resides in the same house he purchased in 1958 for just over $30,000. This commitment to simplicity extends to his daily routine, which is surprisingly low-key for someone of his stature. There's no cryotherapy routine, supplement regimen, or daily body fat scan here.
The Morning Ritual: Coca-Cola, McDonald's, and the Market
Buffett's day typically begins at 6:45 a.m. after eight hours of sleep. Instead of coffee, tea, or even water, his go-to morning drink is a can of Coca-Cola. "If I eat 2700 calories a day, a quarter of that is Coca-Cola. I drink at least five 12-ounce servings," he has said.
On his way to the office, Buffett often stops at McDonald's for breakfast. In the 2017 HBO documentary "Becoming Warren Buffett," he revealed, "When I’m not feeling quite so prosperous, I might go with the $2.61, which is two sausage patties, and then I put them together and pour myself a Coke." When he feels prosperous, he opts for a bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit, which cost $3.17 at the time of filming.
Buffett chooses meals based on the stock market’s performance as well as his mood. Justifying his "not-so-healthy" breakfast, he says, “I checked the actuarial tables, and the lowest death rate is among six-year-olds. So I decided to eat like a six-year-old."
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The Power of Reading and Thinking
Buffett spends a significant portion of his day reading and thinking. He avoids multitasking, compartmentalizing his activities to maintain focus. He estimates that he spends 80% of his time reading reports and thinking, with the remaining 20% dedicated to short but polite phone calls.
"I just read and read and read," Buffett says. "I probably read five to six hours a day. I don’t read as fast now as when I was younger, but I read five daily newspapers. I read a fair number of magazines. I read 10Ks. I read annual reports, and I read a lot of other things, too. So, I’ve always enjoyed reading." He suggests, "Read 500 pages like this every day. That’s how knowledge works. It builds up, like compound interest."
Reading expands his knowledge base, exposing him to new information, ideas, cultures, and perspectives. When researching an investment, Buffett delves deeply into the company’s story, reading as much of its history as possible, tracking its progress and financials, and examining its growth strategy.
Understanding your investment target is a cornerstone of Buffett’s financial strategy. “What an investor needs is the ability to correctly evaluate selected businesses,” he wrote in a 1996 letter to shareholders. “You don’t have to be an expert on every company, or even many. You only have to be able to evaluate companies within your circle of competence. The size of that circle is not very important; knowing its boundaries, however, is vital.”
Buffett has the habit of writing all the time, which might explain his aversion to digital documents. It’s a part of his thinking process. He takes notes using regular pen and paper, sometimes writing on envelopes, random scraps, or in the margins, though he has a dedicated notebook.
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A Light Schedule and Saying No
One of the most striking aspects of Buffett's routine is how "light" his schedule is. "It took far too long for me to realize that you don’t have to fill every second of your schedule to be successful," he has said. He keeps his schedule open, avoiding back-to-back meetings, and pretty much doesn’t do anything he doesn’t like to do.
Microsoft co-founder and close friend Bill Gates wrote in 1996, "One habit of Warren’s that I admire is that he keeps his schedule free of meetings. He’s good at saying no to things… He likes to sit in his office and read and think."
Saying no at the right time, according to Warren Buffett, is a vital skill to have. Initially, Mike Flint misinterpreted Buffett’s message. He kept looking into the twenty goals he had crossed out and treated them as something to save for later. Warren follows his 5/25 work rule. He makes a list of around 25 daily to-do tasks. Then he applies the 5/25 rule. Buffett asked his personal pilot Mike Flint to list his top 25 career goals. After Flint wrote them down, Buffett told him to circle his top five goals. Buffett then told Flint that he should avoid the other 20 goals at all costs.
Work-Life Balance and Evening Routine
Buffett has always prioritized work-life balance. He gets home from the office between 5 and 6 every evening, often after another trip through the McDonald’s drive-thru. He becomes frustrated when others don’t respect his boundaries.
For dinner, he often enjoys veal parmigiana. In his spare time, he reads, plays bridge to keep his mind sharp, and strums the ukulele. He also likes spending time with his family and friends. "I love playing bridge, I talk to my friends, and I pretty much don’t do anything I don’t like to do," he says. Regarding being in control of one’s own life, Buffett suggests, “Keep control of your time."
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The Importance of Sleep
Buffett emphasizes the importance of sleep, getting around eight hours each night. "I get quite a bit of sleep. I like to sleep," he said in a 2017 interview with PBS NewsHour. "I will usually sleep eight hours a night, and that-no, I have no desire to get to work at four in the morning."
Adequate sleep restores physical health, allowing the body to repair itself, supporting healthy brain function and maintaining physical health. It improves cognitive functions, including attention, learning, memory consolidation, and decision-making. Sleep also enhances emotional and mental well-being and supports growth and development.
Investment Philosophy and Key Principles
Buffett's habits of success hinge on the good old compound interest. When asked how he acquired the knowledge that allowed him to come out on top, Buffett said that compound interest applies to life as well as finance. Investing is a marathon, not a sprint. Finding a financial routine that works for you can be just as effective as making one big "lucky" decision.
He has a hands-off approach to managing Berkshire Hathaway's subsidiaries. "He makes swift investment decisions, steers clear of meetings and advisers, eschews set procedures and doesn’t require frequent reports from managers," the Wall Street Journal reported. "Mr. Buffett tells the chiefs of his business units not to produce any special reports for him," the story continues. "We delegate almost to the point of abdication," Buffett has said. He likes to keep his people happy.
Recommended Reading
Buffett believes books and financial reports to be an amazing asset for entry-level investors. He recommends:
- The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham
- Poor Charlie’s Almanack: The Wit and Wisdom of Charles T.
- The Clash of the Cultures: Investment vs. Speculation by John C. Bogle
- The Little Book of Common Sense Investing by John C. Bogle
Philanthropy and Succession
Beyond his financial success, Buffett is known for his philanthropic efforts. He has donated over $50 billion, primarily to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. As Buffett approaches his mid-90s, succession planning has been a significant topic of discussion among Berkshire Hathaway investors.