Who was Warren Buffett’s first wife Susan Thompson Buffett? The activist was married to the billionaire investor for decades but why was their marriage described as ‘unconventional’ by their daughter?
She had the second largest stake in Berkshire Hathaway and played a major role in her husband’s philanthropy; the pair remained deeply connected, despite living largely separate lives, until her death
The Berkshire Hathaway CEO and his late first wife always believed in “[leaving] children enough so they can do anything but not enough that they can do nothing”, per his letter. Following Susan’s death in 2004, each of her and Warren’s three children – Susan, Howard and Peter – inherited US$10 million. Two years later, their father made a lifetime pledge to bestow his fortune on charitable organisations. To that end, he tasked the Buffett siblings with distributing his multibillion-dollar estate among charities of their choice within a decade of his passing.
Further into the future, rather than passing the responsibility to his grandchildren, Buffett has appointed three trustees whom he considers “potential successors”, per the New York Post. “They are also somewhat younger than my children. But these successors are on the wait list. I hope Susie, Howie and Peter themselves disburse all of my assets,” read the letter.
Buffett’s philanthropy started with his late wife Susan, whom he credits for his enduring success and for making him “more of a whole person”. So what do we know about her?
What is Susan Thompson Buffett known for?
How did she meet Warren Buffett?
Susan hailed from Omaha, Nebraska, where she was raised by her psychology professor father, William “Doc” Thompson. Her family was close with the Buffett family, although she did not know her future husband when they were younger. It was not until Thompson roomed with Buffett’s sister Roberta at Northwestern University that she met Warren.