Warren Buffett
For someone who is such a successful investor, Warren Buffett comes off as a pretty ordinary guy.
He was born on August 30, 1930. __1__ He used to go doortodoor and sell soda water. When his
family moved to Washington, Buffett became a paperboy for The Washington Post. Buffett ran his five
paper routes and even added magazines to round out his product offerings. While still in school, he was
making$ 175 a month, a fulltime wage for many men.
__2__ He spent $ 1,200 on 40 acres of farmland in Nebraska. He and a friend also made $ 50 a
week by placing pinball machines in barber shops. They called their venture(企业) Wilson Coin Operated Machine Co.
Already a successful smalltime businessman, Buffett wasn't interested in going to college but ended
up at the University of Pennsylvania-his father encouraged him to go. __3__ But he was turned down,
which had to be one of the worst admission decisions in Harvard history. The outcome affected Buffett's
life, for he ended up attending Columbia Business School, where he studied under Professor Benjamin
Graham the father of securities analysis who provided the foundation (基础) for Buffett's investment
strategy.
From the beginning, Buffett made his fortune from investing. He started with all the money he had
made from selling soda water, delivering papers, and operating pinball machines. Between 1950 and
1956, he grew his $ 9,800 to $ 14,000. __4__ And then he gradually drew in other investors through
word of mouth and very attractive terms.
__5__ He doesn't collect houses or cars or works of art, and he disdains(鄙视) companies that
waste money on expensive cars, private dining rooms, and highpriced real villas. He is a creature of
habit-same house, same office, same city, same soda water.
A. Then Buffett applied to Harvard Business School.
B. Buffett is more likely to be found in a fourstar restaurant.
C. When he was 14, Buffett developed great interest in investment.
D. Even as a young child, Buffett was serious about making money.
E. One thing is for sure about Buffett: he is happy to do what he is doing.
F. Buffett's investment strategy mirrors his lifestyle and his overall philosophy.
G. From there, he organized investment partnerships with his family and friends.
