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The chance to talk business around a steak at lunch time with the world's third richest man cost over $ 4.5 million to an anonymous bidder.
On Friday, a charity auction for a meal with reputed investor Warren Buffett, 88, was closed at $ 4,567,888, all going to Glide, a charity aimed at reduce poverty and homelessness in the San Francisco Bay Area.
This enthusiast's auction broke the previous record of $ 3.46 million, the amount paid in 2012 and 2016, and brings the total amount raised in the 20 years since Mr. Buffett organized the luncheon for more $ 33 million.
As is customary, the lucky bidder and up to seven friends dine at the Smith & Wollensky steakhouse in New York with the Oracle of Ohama. Organized by eBay, this year's auction, this year's auction brought together the offers of five anonymous individuals hoping to win what was presented as a "mighty picnic". The auction, which started at $ 25,000, exceeded $ 3.5 million in less than 12 hours after Sunday's opening.
"We are so surprised and grateful," said Karen Hanrahan, President and CEO of Glide.
Nestled in the heart of San Francisco's Tenderloin neighborhood, Glide offers free meals to those in need, aims to create a sense of community and helps solve addiction issues.
This year's annual luncheon is especially important for the charity, said Ms. Hanrahan. The organization, which has an annual operating budget of only $ 23 million, is expanding its services into the San Francisco Bay Area, while poverty and homelessness are key. worse.
"The demand for services is skyrocketing and the gap between rich and poor is widening," she said.
In addition to adding to its daily support services, Glide also expands the scope of its work to advocate for social justice reforms at the national level. Extreme poverty is clearly visible in San Francisco, where many people live in tents and on the street, just steps away from expensive new developments and technology billionaires. While rents in the city have skyrocketed over the last decade, some have blamed tech companies whose expansion had transformed the local economy.
Despite the multi-million dollar lunch award with billionaire founder Berkshire Hathaway, a successful auction at the annual auction could be considered a wise investment: Ted Weschler, two-time charity luncheon winner, was hired to help manage its stock portfolio after outbidding its competitors in 2010 and 2011.
"It's only good," Buffett told Ms. Hanrahan before the auction. "I have met a lot of interesting people from around the world. There's nothing like supporting the winners and helping people become winners. "
"Warren said that he would be with us until he could no longer stand," said Janice Mirikitani, co-founder of Glide. "He's a wise man and a good friend."
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