
Buffett Would Get Fired ASAP as an Investment Manager!
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Warren Buffett is undeniably the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) with stellar performance: He crushed the S&P 500 with Berkshire Hathaway and did even better in his early partnershipsâover seven decades averaging >20 % annual returns.
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Shocking thesis: Despite this success, Buffett would be fired multiple times as an investment manager because he repeatedly goes through phases of extreme underperformance.
- 1969 â Self-closure: Buffett dissolved his partnerships because he saw no attractive investments. While others chased hype (SpaceX, AI, data centers), he stayed passive.
- 2026/current â Berkshire holds $380 billion in cash (about 35 % of assets) and has been doing nothing for yearsâwhile the world chases AI, data centers, and space.
- 1968 to 1974 â Berkshire stock stagnated from $38 to $39â7 years of no return. Instead, he bought a failing textile mill.
- 1999 to 2000 â Berkshire lost > 40 % while NASDAQ surged +183 %. Who wouldn't fire their manager?
- 1999 to 2009 â Berkshire delivered -30.4 % total returnâwhile Treasury bonds yielded 6 % annually.
- Buffettâs lesson: Donât panic over hype â NASDAQ is up 10x over 15 years, everyone chases SpaceX, Tesla, robotaxis, flying cars, drones. But such hype often destroys long-term wealth.
- Actionable advice: Be your own GOAT. Stick to a long-term, patient strategyâand donât let short-term irrationality shake you.
Buffettâs career shows: Perfection every year is impossible. The art is staying disciplined over decades, even when youâre considered crazy.






