Warren Buffett published his last annual address as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK, BRK.B)) earlier this week, urging the company’s “unusually generous” shareholders to act kindly and decently in an increasingly greedy world.
“Greatness does not come about through accumulating great amounts of money, great amounts of publicity or great power in government,” the billionaire investor wrote.
“When you help someone in any of thousands of ways, you help the world,” he continued. “Kindness is costless but also priceless. Whether you are religious or not, it’s hard to beat The Golden Rule as a guide to behavior.”
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For decades, Buffett has been dispensing life advice in his missives to shareholders, which has helped establish him not just as an accomplished businessman, but also as someone who has mastered the secrets to living a better life.
“I write this as one who has been thoughtless countless times and made many mistakes but also became very lucky in learning from some wonderful friends how to behave better (still a long way from perfect, however),” he continued.
“My advice: Don’t beat yourself up over past mistakes — learn at least a little from them and move on,” he wrote. “It is never too late to improve. Get the right heroes and copy them. You can start with Tom Murphy; he was the best.”
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Murphy spent decades as the CEO of Capital Cities Communications and was one of the masterminds behind the broadcaster’s merger with ABC and eventually Disney (NYSE:DIS). He was a close friend of Buffett’s and served on Berkshire Hathaway’s board until 2022, when he resigned following a battle with COVID. He died later that year.
Buffett’s letter to shareholders comes at a similar transition point in his career. In May, he announced that he’d be stepping down as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway by the end of the year, naming long-time lieutenant Greg Abel as his successor.
“I will continue talking to you and my children about Berkshire via my annual Thanksgiving message,” he continued. “Berkshire’s individual shareholders are a very special group who are unusually generous in sharing their gains with others less fortunate. I enjoy the chance to keep in touch with you.”