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Buffett’s breakfast: How the billionaire’s morning meal is decided by the stock market

For breakfast, SME owners might enjoy a bowl of cereal, or perhaps a slice or two of toast. Whatever the dish, the food is probably decided based on the rumbling in your stomach, not the fluctuations of global markets. But for billionaire and investing genius Warren Buffett, his morning meal decision is based on if the […]
Dominic Powell
Dominic Powell

For breakfast, SME owners might enjoy a bowl of cereal, or perhaps a slice or two of toast. Whatever the dish, the food is probably decided based on the rumbling in your stomach, not the fluctuations of global markets.

But for billionaire and investing genius Warren Buffett, his morning meal decision is based on if the market is up, or down, according to Business Insider.

Buffett’s breakfast habits have been revealed in the recently released HBO documentary, Becoming Warren Buffett. In the documentary, Buffett takes the film crew through his daily routine, which he has maintained for 50 years.

Read more: The three words Warren Buffett wants you to write on your mirror

One of the first parts of the day is his drive from his Omaha home to Berkshire Hathaway offices, which takes about five minutes.

“One of the good things about this five-minute drive is that on the way there’s a McDonald’s,” Buffett says in the documentary, reports BI.

Buffett then describes how he decides between three options on the McDonald’s breakfast menu. He tells his wife Astrid the amount of money to put in the cup holder of his car: either $2.61, $2.95, or $3.17 (USD).

“When I’m not feeling quite so prosperous, I might go with the $2.61. That’s two sausage patties and then I put them together and then pour myself a Coke,” Buffett says in the documentary.

“$3.17 is a bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit. But the market’s down this morning, so I think I’ll pass up the $3.17 and go with the $2.95.”

While some may think this is a genius ploy for Buffett to boost shares in a company he owns, Business Insider reports it appears Buffett does not currently hold shares in McDonald’s, despite having a significant holding in 1997.

Along with a couple of sausage and egg McMuffins, Buffett also reportedly drinks five cans of Coca Cola per day, a beverage from company he is the largest shareholder in. Despite his investment, Business Insider reports he apparently pays retail price.

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