Everybody knows billionaire Warren Buffett is an expert investor, but no one could anticipate he would show off a musical ability as well.
The Berkshire Hathaway CEO joined pop music legend Stevie Wonder for a duet at a star-studded gala honoring Forbes magazine at Manhattan’s Chelsea Piers on Tuesday.
Wonder and Buffett sang a duet of the classic hit The Glory of Love, a single written by Billy Hill and first recorded by Benny Goodman in 1936.
The event on Tuesday was a celebration of the business magazine’s 100th anniversary.
Pop music legend Stevie Wonder (left) and multi-billionaire investor Warren Buffett teamed up for a duet during a star-studded gala in New York City on Tuesday
Wonder and Buffett sang a duet of the classic hit The Glory of Love, a single written by Billy Hill and first recorded by Benny Goodman in 1936
Wonder was the special musical guest at the event on Tuesday – a celebration of Forbes magazine’s 100th anniversary
The gala coincided with the release of a special edition of Forbes honoring ‘100 of the world’s greatest living business minds.’
The list includes some of the biggest names in the business world and philanthropy, including Sheldon Adelson, Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, Michael Bloomberg, Bono, Michael Dell, Sean ‘P. Diddy’ Combs, Giorgio Armani, Barry Diller, Rupert Murdoch, Elon Musk, Paul McCartney, Mark Zuckerberg, Oprah Winfrey, and Richard Branson.
Buffett is on the cover of the special centennial edition.
In his remarks to those attending the gala, the ‘Oracle of Omaha’ expressed optimism about the future of the United States in an era of global instability.
‘Whenever I hear people talk pessimistically about this country, I think they’re out of their mind,’ Buffett said on Tuesday night.
In his remarks to those attending the gala, the ‘Oracle of Omaha’ expressed optimism about the future of the United States in an era of global instability
Buffett said he expects the Dow Jones Industrial Average to be ‘over 1 million’ in 100 years, up from Tuesday’s close of 22,370.80. He is seen on stage at the gala with 24 other philanthropists and influential business people
He noted that since Forbes created its first list of the 400 richest Americans in 1982 – Buffett was worth just $250 million then – some 1,500 different people have been included
Among those in attendance was Sean ‘P Diddy’ Combs. The rapper and entrepreneur formerly known as Puff Daddy was named to Forbes’ list of 100 most brilliant business minds
Besides hip hop music, Combs has branched out to other industries including fashion and liquor
Jack Welch (far left) and Muhammad Yunus attended the gala, as did Alexandra and Sean Parker (right)
The billionaire has transformed Berkshire since 1965 from a failing textile company into a conglomerate with more than 90 businesses in such sectors as insurance, railroads, energy and retail, and well over $100billion of stocks.
Buffett said he expects the Dow Jones Industrial Average to be ‘over 1 million’ in 100 years, up from Tuesday’s close of 22,370.80.
He said that’s not unreasonable, given how the index was roughly 81 a century ago.
But he knows he won’t be around to see it happen.
‘When I hear talking about making it to 100, I get excited,’ he said. ‘I’m 87.’
Buffett said he recently determined that of the 53,364 people in the United States who were at least 100 years old, the ratio of women to men was nearly 5-to-1.
‘We should start thinking about a sex change,’ Buffett said, prompting laughter.
Nonetheless, he said long-term investing remains the way to go.
He noted that since Forbes created its first list of the 400 richest Americans in 1982 — Buffett was worth just $250 million then – some 1,500 different people have been included.
All with one thing in common.
‘You don’t see any short sellers,’ he said, referring to people who bet stock prices will fall.