Warren Buffett, chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, is the definitive long-term value investor and one of history's most successful capital allocators. His philosophy, developed under Benjamin Graham at Columbia and refined through his decades-long partnership with Charlie Munger, evolved from pure "cigar butt" bargain hunting to a focus on buying exceptional businesses at fair prices — and holding them indefinitely. The foundation of Buffett's approach is the concept of "economic moats" — durable competitive advantages that allow a business to defend its market position and generate superior returns on invested capital across full economic cycles. He favors businesses with strong pricing power, high returns on equity without excessive leverage, and management teams with integrity and shareholder orientation. Buffett is notorious for his discipline: he will wait years or even decades for the right opportunity at the right price, having described his ideal holding period as "forever." This long-term orientation allows Berkshire to exploit the structural short-termism of institutional investors. His capital allocation at Berkshire has been masterful — recycling insurance float into equity investments and wholly-owned businesses spanning insurance, energy, railroads, financial services, and consumer brands. Today, Berkshire holds over 0 billion in cash, reflecting his conviction that current valuations offer insufficient margin of safety. His core public positions — Apple, American Express, Coca-Cola, Bank of America — reflect a consistent preference for businesses with recurring revenues, strong brand loyalty, and pricing power. Buffett's philosophy teaches that investment success requires temperament above all: the ability to remain calm during panics and act decisively when others are afraid.