Warren Buffett: The Frugal Oracle of Omaha
One of the most well-documented cases of a billionaire embracing fast food is that of Warren Buffett, the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. For decades, Buffett has maintained a daily ritual of stopping by McDonald's for breakfast on his short commute to the office in Omaha, Nebraska. His commitment to a simple, predictable routine is a hallmark of his disciplined life, which extends beyond his investing principles to his eating habits. In the HBO documentary Becoming Warren Buffett, the Oracle of Omaha revealed a fascinating detail about his morning order: it depends on the stock market's performance. On better days, he might spring for the slightly more expensive bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit. On less prosperous days, he opts for a cheaper option, always paying with exact change.
Buffett's fast-food preference is no secret. He famously once quipped that he eats like a six-year-old and would give up a year of his life to continue enjoying what he likes rather than switching to a healthier diet. His portfolio reflects this fondness, as Berkshire Hathaway holds significant investments in companies like Coca-Cola, Kraft Heinz, and fully owns Dairy Queen and See's Candies. This intersection of personal taste and investment strategy highlights his unwavering belief in consumer-facing brands he understands and uses personally.
More of Buffett's Simple Pleasures
- Coca-Cola: He has been known to consume five cans of Coke per day.
- Dairy Queen: As an owner, he frequently enjoys chili-cheese dogs and ice cream sundaes.
- See's Candies: Another Berkshire-owned company, the chocolates are a favorite snack.
Bill Gates: The Cheeseburger Enthusiast
Like his friend Warren Buffett, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is also an admirer of fast food, with a particular love for cheeseburgers. Despite his almost unimaginable wealth, Gates's food choices are surprisingly simple and consistent. According to Joe Cerrell, a managing director at the Gates Foundation, if you had a lunchtime meeting with Bill, you would be eating burgers, as someone would always be sent to get bags of McDonald's. His preference for cheeseburgers from McDonald's and other chains like In-N-Out shows a down-to-earth side that contrasts with his elite status.
Gates and Buffett have even shared McDonald's meals, including one memorable instance in Hong Kong where the frugal Buffett paid using coupons, much to Gates's amusement. Further demonstrating their access to extraordinary perks, both billionaires are rumored to possess a McDonald's "Gold Card," which grants free food for life. Gates's fondness for fast food extends beyond just burgers; he is also a well-known drinker of Diet Coke, consuming several cans daily.
Jeff Bezos: From Fast-Food Employee to Billionaire
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has a different, yet equally relatable, connection to McDonald's. His relationship with the fast-food giant stems from his first-ever job at 16, where he worked as a line cook flipping burgers. This early experience instilled a strong work ethic in him, and he has spoken about how no job was beneath him. The experience also gave him a close-up look at automation and efficiency, principles he would later apply to Amazon.
Bezos has publicly reminisced about this time, occasionally indulging in a McDonald's burger and posting about it on social media to reflect on his humble beginnings. This nostalgic connection serves as a reminder of where he started. However, Bezos's diet is more varied than Buffett's or Gates's. While he enjoys the occasional burger, he is also known for more adventurous and upscale tastes, including eating breakfast octopus.
Billionaires' Fast Food Connections: A Comparison
| Billionaire | McDonald's Habit | Other Fast Food/Simple Foods | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warren Buffett | Daily breakfast stop, order dictated by market performance. | Coca-Cola (5 cans/day), Dairy Queen, See's Candies. | Frugality, simple pleasures, discipline, investing in brands he likes. |
| Bill Gates | Favors cheeseburgers for lunch, often brought into meetings. | In-N-Out burgers, Diet Coke (3-4 cans/day). | Simple tastes, convenience, comfort food. |
| Jeff Bezos | Enjoys the occasional burger out of nostalgia for his first job. | Wide variety, from exotic (octopus) to simple (pancakes). | Nostalgia, commemorating his beginnings. |
The Psychology of Billionaires' Food Choices
The reasons these titans of industry gravitate toward fast food are more complex than simple convenience. For some, like Buffett, it's about unapologetic consistency and a focus on what's important. By minimizing minor decisions like what to eat for breakfast, he frees up mental bandwidth for his far more complex investment strategies. For others, like Bezos, it's about grounding themselves by recalling their roots, using food as a tangible link to a past before their immense wealth. For Gates, it appears to be a matter of pure, simple preference—a taste he developed that has not changed despite his access to the world's most exquisite cuisine. It also challenges the notion that wealth automatically confers a refined, complex palate, suggesting that comfort and familiarity often win out.
Conclusion: More Relatable Than You Think
The fast-food habits of billionaires like Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, and Jeff Bezos offer a rare glimpse into the human side of immense success. Their reasons for eating at McDonald's and other casual chains range from extreme frugality and nostalgia to pure and simple taste. For Buffett, it's a daily ritual of frugality and consistency; for Gates, a straightforward preference for a classic cheeseburger; and for Bezos, a nostalgic tribute to his formative working years. These food choices humanize the ultra-rich, reminding us that no matter how high one climbs, the simple comforts of a familiar meal can remain a constant pleasure. The next time you find yourself in a McDonald's, consider that one of the world's wealthiest might be ordering the same meal.
Warren Buffett: The Frugal Billionaire Who Spends Little on Breakfast
