Andrew Ross Sorkin

He is famous for wanting higher taxes on the wealthy, including himself. And he has said it over and over again that his secretary is taxed at a higher rate than he is, and it's not right. During the Obama years, there was actually a tax provision that was named after Warren Buffett to raise the taxes on capital gains.

He is famous for wanting higher taxes on the wealthy, including himself. And he has said it over and over again that his secretary is taxed at a higher rate than he is, and it's not right. During the Obama years, there was actually a tax provision that was named after Warren Buffett to raise the taxes on capital gains.

It did not go through. There's very few people in the business world who are screaming from the rooftops, tax me and tax me more. Warren Buffett actually was one of those people. And on philanthropy, he's pledged to give all of his money away.

It did not go through. There's very few people in the business world who are screaming from the rooftops, tax me and tax me more. Warren Buffett actually was one of those people. And on philanthropy, he's pledged to give all of his money away.

And he's been very outspoken about it, actually created what's called the Giving Pledge with Bill Gates and Melinda Gates many years ago to really try to incentivize and, frankly, pressure billionaires to start giving away a lot more of their fortune. But he's now actually come out quite publicly lamenting the idea that he's actually made so much money.

And he's been very outspoken about it, actually created what's called the Giving Pledge with Bill Gates and Melinda Gates many years ago to really try to incentivize and, frankly, pressure billionaires to start giving away a lot more of their fortune. But he's now actually come out quite publicly lamenting the idea that he's actually made so much money.

That he can't give it all away fast enough. And he's actually worried about who's going to give it away. Wow.

That he can't give it all away fast enough. And he's actually worried about who's going to give it away. Wow.

You know, I don't want to suggest to you that Warren Buffett is perfect. He is not. And he oftentimes says as much. And there are things that he does and says that a critic from the outside could easily say feels like hypocrisy.

You know, I don't want to suggest to you that Warren Buffett is perfect. He is not. And he oftentimes says as much. And there are things that he does and says that a critic from the outside could easily say feels like hypocrisy.

Well, look, he's long talked about taxes and how he would like to be taxed at a higher rate. Berkshire, the company, the way it's structured effectively is to avoid taxes. It's not illegal. It's not even that clever. But the way he's put it together, he's able to take those profits and rather than have the profits annually taxed, he's able to keep those profits inside the company.

Well, look, he's long talked about taxes and how he would like to be taxed at a higher rate. Berkshire, the company, the way it's structured effectively is to avoid taxes. It's not illegal. It's not even that clever. But the way he's put it together, he's able to take those profits and rather than have the profits annually taxed, he's able to keep those profits inside the company.

You know, he bought Goldman Sachs during the financial crisis. This was a firm that was widely critiqued at the time. Now, he would say it was a great value investment and he was doing it effectively to save or at least to help save the system, if you will, at the time. He extracted extraordinary fees for Berkshire Hathaway shareholders as a result.

You know, he bought Goldman Sachs during the financial crisis. This was a firm that was widely critiqued at the time. Now, he would say it was a great value investment and he was doing it effectively to save or at least to help save the system, if you will, at the time. He extracted extraordinary fees for Berkshire Hathaway shareholders as a result.

but he effectively was investing in businesses that he has critiqued in many ways. So there are certain things that he's talked about, and I believe he genuinely believes them in the whole, but there have also been times where he has done or said something That has been contravened by his decisions.

but he effectively was investing in businesses that he has critiqued in many ways. So there are certain things that he's talked about, and I believe he genuinely believes them in the whole, but there have also been times where he has done or said something That has been contravened by his decisions.

He has talked about a lot of important social issues in the country, but he was never an advocate, for example, of DEI. And I would ask him about that on the stage and say, your office is not particularly diverse.

He has talked about a lot of important social issues in the country, but he was never an advocate, for example, of DEI. And I would ask him about that on the stage and say, your office is not particularly diverse.

He would say that's almost too politically correct an idea to address, that he only wanted what he called the most talented people, and he was not interested in necessarily trying to find somebody who didn't look like him for that job for that reason.

He would say that's almost too politically correct an idea to address, that he only wanted what he called the most talented people, and he was not interested in necessarily trying to find somebody who didn't look like him for that job for that reason.