In the summer of 1991, Mary Gates, the mother of the Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates, convinced her workaholic 35-year-old son to spend the July 4 holiday at Hood Canal. The Oracle of Omaha, Warren Buffett, was among the guests. The two men hit it off immediately and talked for 11 hours straight. Mr. Gates found himself warming to the avuncular Midwestern billionaire, and they have been close friends ever since.
Mr. Buffett is folksy and outgoing, enjoys breaking down complex investing principles into simple nuggets, and is genuinely curious about people's backgrounds. He asks questions and listens intently, connecting easily through banter. At the annual Berkshire Hathaway shareholders' meeting, attendees were delighted by the camaraderie displayed by Mr. Buffett and Mr. Gates.
Once recounting their meeting story to students, Mr. Gates called his friendship with Mr. Buffett unbelievable. Mr. Buffett humorously highlighted the importance of listening to his mother. Their unusual friendship showcases the value of forming connections beyond superficial judgments and the impact of genuine curiosity and understanding.
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