The World's Greatest Money Maker on BBC Two
Evan Davis Meets Self-made Billionaire Warren Buffett
Oct 27, 2009
Look at them out there, even in times of financial ruin those top level bankers and city traders are playing with your money, rewarding themselves despite losing billions and pointing fingers at each when it all goes wrong. It’s not irrational to say that brokers and bankers are among the most despised group of people on the planet. Enter super-investor Warren Buffett to change the image.
He is the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, a man dubbed the “Oracle of Omaha” and has an estimated wealth at around $40 billion who adds his own brand of money making advice in this profile/documentary The World's Greatest Money Maker presented by ever smiling economic journalist Evan Davies.
Super-investor Warren Buffett
In an age where bankers and investment companies are awarding themselves sickening bonuses (Daily Mail mode on) at the expense of tax payers and where there’s a global recession leaving many unemployed Davies ponders if Buffett could be the suitable face of the business world. On evidence of this programme it could work out, as there’s very little extraordinary about his lifestyle or public persona, just that he gets on with life and shows genuine compassion to others.
As Davies observes “unlike most of the super rich he lives in a very different world; the real world”. This is a man who once owned more money than anybody yet buys cheap, second-hand cars and lives in the same moderately sized house he bought 30 years ago. He base of operations is a cozy office taking up one floor of space with a skeleton staff, he eats regularly at the local steak house and he does all of this with a smile on his face.
Warren Buffett’s Philanthropy
Just from his manner and all round presentation it’s fair to say Buffett is the polar opposite to egotistical socialites Piers Morgan met on his rich man travels or the self-righteous sacks Davies is used to sharing screen time with on Dragons’ Den. Buffett too takes a dim view on the super rich reaping the benefits of high wage packets and bonuses when they are not deserved.
In what might sound like a cruel move Buffett doesn’t believe in passing on his wealth to his children and decided instead to give most of his assets, around $30 billion, to charitable causes, most notably the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
What is strange is that in an hour of television nobody really has anything negative to say about the man. The closest thing to criticism comes from a reference to an early acquisition where some people in a tiny community were put out of a job. So there’s either a very one-sided affair going on here or he is really that nice. Whatever the reason he’s certainly doing something right and it’s refreshing to see a man at the top that hasn’t lost the common touch and is likeable.
The World's Greatest Money Maker: An Advert for Coca-Cola?
Most sections of the programme were broken up with Buffett’s rules of successful investment, complete with a cartoon picture of the man himself that makes him look some sort of dull comic book superhero. Although most of these would perhaps only be relevant to those who already have great heaps of money in the bank. But they are still sage words. It was merely garnish anyway as this mainly served as an opportunity to chronicle his life from filling in his first tax return form at 13-years-old to the aggressive buying of Coca-Cola shares.
Ah Coca-Cola. That was one major problem with The World's Greatest Money Maker. At some stages it was approaching an advert with the drink turning up on camera, constantly mentioned and in one scene Davies is even handed a can of it to drink by Buffett. True this is a company Berkshire Hathaway is hugely involved in but there is a point where information ends and promotion pops up.
Also it’s a shame Davies didn’t have more time alone with Buffett to pry more into his opinions instead of following him on his duties or talking to friends or family, even if they do include his richest person in the world” sparring partner Bill Gates.
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