May 17, 2026
Someone just paid $9 million for lunch with Warren Buffett. Not for a private island getaway or a stake in Berkshire Hathaway — just a meal with the legendary investor, plus Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry and his wife, entrepreneur Ayesha Curry.
A mystery bidder won the annual charity auction for Buffett's famed power lunch this week with a final bid of just over $9 million, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal (1). The lunch will take place June 24 in Omaha, Nebraska, and the winning bidder can bring up to seven guests.
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The price tag may sound absurd, but Buffett's annual lunches have long occupied a unique place in the business world: part philanthropy, part networking opportunity and part status symbol for the ultra-wealthy.
The auction moved online in 2003 and winning bids have topped $1 million since 2008. Buffett has helped raise more than $50 million for Glide, the San Francisco nonprofit supported by his late first wife, Susie Buffett. This year's proceeds will be split between Glide and the Currys' Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation.
The final auction price for this year's lunch was notably lower than the record-setting $19 million bid in 2022, the last time Buffett participated in the event. Still, at $9 million, it remains one of the most expensive charity meals ever sold.
Why wealthy people pay millions for access
For most people, spending $9 million on lunch would sound financially reckless. But for ultra-wealthy entrepreneurs, hedge fund managers or crypto founders, access itself can function like an investment.
Buffett's lunches have historically attracted bidders hoping to gain proximity to one of the world's most respected investors and potentially open doors that might otherwise remain closed.
One example is Ted Weschler, a hedge fund manager, who won Buffett's charity lunch twice before eventually joining Berkshire Hathaway as an investment manager (2).
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Crypto entrepreneur Justin Sun also famously won the charity lunch in 2019, later using the meeting as both a branding opportunity and a credibility boost for his blockchain company (3).
The phenomenon extends far beyond Buffett. In recent years, even political figures have embraced the strategy. President Donald Trump has offered private dinners and VIP experiences tied to campaign fundraising and meme coin dinners (4), while tech founders and influencers increasingly monetize exclusive communities and in-person events (5).
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Can networking really be worth millions?
For some buyers, the actual meal is secondary. The bigger draw is the opportunity to spend several hours in a small room with one of the world's most respected investors and potentially make connections that could prove valuable long after the lunch ends.
That doesn't mean this year's mystery bidder should expect to earn a role on Buffett's team. Buffett's lunch rules have historically allowed winners to discuss almost anything except what he might invest in next, Reuters reported (6).
So the value may be less about getting stock tips and more about access. Still, there's no guarantee a lunch will produce a financial return. For many bidders, Buffett's charity auction may function more as philanthropy, prestige and personal branding than a measurable investment. But the history of the event shows why the ultra-wealthy keep paying for access: sometimes the room itself is the asset.
Article Sources
We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our ethics and guidelines.
The Wall Street Journal (1); CNBC (2),(3),(4); Digiday (5); Reuters (6)
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Clay Halton is an associate editor at Money.ca, covering a wide range of consumer-focused financial stories. He has over eight years of experience in digital publishing and has written and edited for outlets including PCMag and Investopedia.
