Warren Buffett is worth $163 billion but still lives in his $31,500 Omaha home: Why the billionaire never moved in 68 years

A man with an estimated fortune of about $163 billion could buy almost any house in the world. Warren Buffett, 96, has kept the same Omaha, Nebraska, home since 1958, when he paid $31,500 for it. The five-bedroom property is now estimated to be worth around $1.4 million.

A $163 billion fortune, but no reason to leave Omaha

Forbes estimated Buffett’s real-time net worth at $162.1 billion on November 8, 2026. The figure changes with his investments; it is not cash in a bank account. Much of his wealth is tied to Berkshire Hathaway. He has the means to buy a larger property, but has chosen not to.

Buffett bought the house at age 28. He and his first wife, Susan, raised their three children there. The home has five bedrooms and two-and-a-half bathrooms. He has said he “wouldn’t trade it for anything.” Its value to him is also tied to the years his family spent there.


The property’s estimated value is now around 44 times its original price. Buffett has said he is happy there and cannot imagine having a better house. He has kept a home that already gives him what he wants.

Warren Buffett’s McDonald’s breakfast shows how he spends money

The same habits appear in Buffett’s daily routine. He is known for stopping at McDonald’s for breakfast, choosing between two sausage patties, a sausage, egg and cheese sandwich, or a bacon, egg and cheese biscuit. In a documentary, he described setting aside exact change: $2.61, $2.95 or $3.17. Those were the prices he quoted at the time, not current menu prices.

Buffett once took Bill Gates to McDonald’s rather than an expensive restaurant. Gates later recalled a lunch in Hong Kong when Buffett offered to pay, reached into his pocket and pulled out coupons. The moment made Gates laugh. It showed that Buffett did not feel the need to impress another billionaire with an expensive meal.

He has also been known for driving an older car instead of replacing it simply because he can afford a new one.

Warren Buffett’s final shareholder letter explains what greatness means

Buffett’s final Berkshire Hathaway shareholder letter was released on November 10, 2025. He wrote: “Greatness does not come about through accumulating great amounts of money, great amounts of publicity or great power in government.”

He then explained what matters more. “When you help someone in any of thousands of ways, you help the world,” he wrote, adding that “kindness is costless but also priceless.” He also pointed to the Golden Rule as a guide to behaviour, whether or not a person is religious.

One line made the message clear: “Keep in mind that the cleaning lady is as much a human being as the Chairman.” Buffett was writing about how people treat one another, not how much they own. Respect, in his view, should not depend on a person’s job title, bank balance or position.

Buffett stepped down as Berkshire Hathaway’s chief executive at the end of 2025, with Greg Abel taking over. His final letter offered a measure of success that cannot be tracked through a stock price or a property estimate.