In a world where health and longevity experts constantly stress the importance of proper hydration, one of the world's wealthiest and most influential investors appears to have followed a very different path.
According to recent accounts, Warren Buffett, now 96, has not drunk plain water since the 1970s, preferring instead to rely largely on his favourite soft drink.
The claim was revealed by Bill Ackman, founder and chief executive of Pershing Square, during an appearance on the Equity Mates Investing podcast.
Recalling a dinner he hosted for Buffett, Ackman said he asked his guest whether he preferred still or sparkling water. Buffett's response was startling: he reportedly said he had not drunk water for more than 48 years and would rather have a Cherry Coke.
According to Business Insider, this is not an occasional quirk but a longstanding lifestyle habit.
The investor who led Berkshire Hathaway for six decades before retiring has openly stated that he drinks five cans of Coca-Cola a day. He has previously joked that his body is "25% Coca-Cola" because roughly a quarter of his daily calorie intake comes from the drink.
His preference for Cherry Coke dates back to 1986, when he publicly ended what he described as a 48-year loyalty to Pepsi during Berkshire Hathaway's annual shareholders' meeting.
A profitable loyalty
As is often the case with Buffett, personal preferences and investment decisions have gone hand in hand.
His enthusiasm for Coca-Cola evolved into one of the most successful investments in Berkshire Hathaway's history.
The company has maintained a stake of roughly 9% in Coca-Cola since the mid-1990s.
An original investment of approximately $1.3 billion is now worth more than $28 billion, representing a return of around 21 times the original investment.
A diet built on fast food and sweets
Buffett's unusual eating habits extend well beyond soft drinks.
His daily routine reportedly includes a McDonald's breakfast on his way to work, while his regular menu features hot dogs, French fries, popcorn, biscuits and ice cream.
That preference for comfort foods is also reflected in Berkshire Hathaway's portfolio, which includes companies such as See's Candies and Dairy Queen, while also holding a major stake in Kraft Heinz.
A Cherry Coke atop the Great Wall
Buffett's eating habits have occasionally created amusing challenges for those around him.
When Bill Gates and his then-wife Melinda Gates travelled with Buffett on a 17-day trip to China in 1995, special arrangements reportedly had to be made with hotel chefs to ensure he could continue eating hamburgers and fries.
The trip even included provisions to ensure that a cold can of Cherry Coke was waiting for him at the top of the Great Wall of China.
Defying expectations
Despite repeated warnings from modern medicine about excessive sugar consumption and inadequate water intake, the investor known as the "Oracle of Omaha" has maintained his sharpness and energy well into old age.
Whether Buffett's habits are an exception or simply an anomaly remains a matter for health experts. What is certain is that his diet has become nearly as legendary as the investment career that made him a billionaire.
Source: Newmoney
