22 November 2023

Warren Buffett has made giving away Berk$hire Hathaway $tock$ a Thank$giving tradition.

Buffett provided an update on his estate planning, and shared his thoughts on wealth, philanthropy, and Berkshire's future, in the press release detailing his latest gifts.

Warren Buffett celebrates Thanksgiving with a nearly $900 million gift - and details what will happen to his fortune after his death

". . ."Dynastic wealth ... is not desirable," Buffett wrote, before adding that "being rich does not make you either wise or evil."

Buffett said his three children — Howard, Susan, and Peter — will be executors of his will and the named trustees of the charitable trust that will receive over 99% of his fortune.
"They were not fully prepared for this awesome responsibility in 2006, but they are now," he said, referring to the "Giving Pledge" he took that year to donate virtually all of his wealth to good causes.
  • The Berkshire chief said the trio in charge of his fortune will have to make unanimous decisions, and must always have designated successors to avoid disputes over who's in charge. He noted his trust would have a broad charter, as laws around philanthropy change over time and "wise trustees above ground are preferable to any strictures written by someone long gone."
  • Buffett added that his trust will self-liquidate after a decade or so and operate with a lean staff, presumably to ensure it distributes his wealth promptly and maximizes the amount of money that goes toward good causes.

The billionaire also touched on Berkshire's prospects in the post-Buffett era, saying his successor, Greg Abel, and the board of directors are the right choices to take the company forward. While large organizations can suffer decay, "Berkshire's advantage is that it has been built to last," he said.

Buffett cautioned that his large stake in Berkshire would help maintain the company's identity for a while after his death, but soon enough "Berkshire will earn the reputation it deserves."

Finally, Buffett promised the distribution of his assets after his death will be an "open book" — a straightforward will that anyone can inspect at the county courthouse. 

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Multi-billionaire Warren Buffet gives away enormous $900million gift for  Thanksgiving - The Mirror US

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