Thursday, October 1, 2009

In Pictures: The Forbes 400

#2 Warren Buffett
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Cowboy Billionaire
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones on building his fortune and a $1 billion stadium.

#2 Warren Buffett

$40,000 million

America's favorite investor lost $10 billion in past 12 months on his Berkshire Hathaway shares. Provided calming guidance to panic-stricken investors during financial crisis last fall; avowed enduring faith in U.S. economy, advised bargain hunting: "Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful." Shrewdly invested $5 billion in Goldman Sachs and $3 billion in General Electric last fall. Suffered a $1.5 billion loss in first-quarter 2009; Berkshire notched $3.3 billion profit in second quarter thanks in part to bet on Goldman. Son of Nebraska politician filed first tax return at age 13, claiming $35 deduction for bicycle bought for paper route. Met value investor Benjamin Graham while studying economics at Columbia. Took over textile firm Berkshire Hathaway 1965, used as vehicle to invest in insurance (Geico), food (Dairy Queen), utilities (MidAmerican Energy) and recently green tech (electric-car maker BYD). Believed to be grooming NetJets Chief David Sokol to eventually take over Berkshire. Appearing in cartoon form on upcoming online-tutor series The Secret Millionaires Club.

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