Warren Buffett Celebrates 94th Birthday, Is Coca-Cola the Secret to His Longevity?

Recently celebrating his 94th birthday, 'investment master' Warren Buffett, chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, has been the subject of an article analyzing his diet and lifestyle habits, including Coca-Cola and candy, as the secrets to his longevity. Berkshire Hathaway, led by Buffett, joined the '1 trillion dollar club' in market capitalization as the first non-big tech company just days before his birthday on the 30th (local time).

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The US economic magazine Fortune reported on the 31st of last month, the day after Buffett's birthday, with the headline "Buffett turns 94. His secret to longevity? Coca-Cola, candy, and the joy of life."

Fortune noted that while it might be expected that Buffett, who leads a massive company and has lived healthily to 94, would adhere to a healthy diet, surprisingly, his eating habits are quite the opposite. In a 2015 interview with Fortune, Buffett said, "I eat like a 6-year-old," adding, "If I consume 2,700 calories a day, a quarter of that is Coca-Cola. I drink it every day." He is known to enjoy 'Utz' potato sticks and to drink five 12-ounce (355 ml) servings of Coca-Cola daily.

In the 2017 HBO documentary 'Becoming Warren Buffett,' he revealed that every morning he stops by McDonald's to eat a $3.17 menu consisting of either two sausage patties or one of egg, cheese, and bacon. Of course, Coca-Cola is always part of the meal. For lunch, he often visits Dairy Queen to have chili cheese hot dogs and sundae ice cream topped with cherry syrup and chopped nuts. For snacks, he enjoys See's Candy. Former Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf once likened Buffett's excessive salt intake to a 'blizzard.'

Fortune introduced billionaire Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft (MS), as one of the people who has closely observed Buffett's childlike eating habits. In a 2017 Reddit Q&A, Gates mentioned that Buffett once ate Oreos for breakfast. He also said, "He mainly eats hamburgers, ice cream, and cola," adding, "It might be a bad example for young people, but it works for him."

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Despite this junk food-centered diet, how does Buffett maintain sharpness and continue his successful investment career with only six years left until he reaches 100? Fortune pointed out that the answer may lie in Buffett's other lifestyle habits, focusing on six aspects including sufficient sleep.

First, Buffett sleeps about eight hours a night. In a 2017 PBS interview, he said, "I don't want to go to work at 4 a.m.," and "I like to sleep. So I usually get about eight hours every night." According to research published by the American Heart Association, sufficient sleep like this can extend lifespan. Stanford professor Andrew Huberman emphasized the study's findings, highlighting the role of adequate sleep in stress relief, immune support, and emotional stability.

Despite running a massive company with over 70 subsidiaries, Buffett is also well known for spending at least eight hours a week playing multiple rounds of bridge (a card game that exercises the brain) with friends. He told The Washington Post (WP), "I play a lot," adding, "Every seven minutes, you face a different intellectual challenge. It's the best exercise for the brain." Fortune reported that a major 10-year study published in the British Medical Journal found that playing card games at least twice a week can help maintain sharp memory into old age.

Unlike other CEOs leading large corporations, Buffett prefers to maintain a relatively light schedule. Bill Gates previously said in a 2017 Bloomberg interview that one lesson he learned from the 'Sage of Omaha' Buffett was "the beauty of a free schedule," noting that Buffett's calendar includes days with "nothing at all." Buffett himself told attendees at Berkshire Hathaway's 2001 annual shareholders meeting, "I hardly do anything I dislike."

Instead, Buffett invests 5 to 6 hours a day in reading and reflection. In the HBO documentary, he said, "I enjoy thinking about business or investment problems." Fortune emphasized research showing that reading helps prevent cognitive decline, calling it "an important way to spend time."

Additionally, Fortune cited Buffett's ability to be grateful for what he has as another secret to his longevity. At a 2008 Berkshire Hathaway annual shareholders meeting, when asked about his health secrets, Buffett, with candy in his mouth, joked, "Well, I start with a balanced diet," making the audience laugh. Sitting next to Vice Chairman Charlie Munger, who passed away last year at age 99, Buffett said, "If Charlie and I can't have a good mental attitude, who can? We have great partners, great managers, and great families. How could we be bitter about a blessed life in many ways?" Such an attitude of gratitude reduces depression, anxiety, chronic pain, and illness.

Finally, Fortune highlighted that Buffett understands the importance of relationships as a key to longevity. A longitudinal study conducted over 85 years at Harvard University found that human relationships contribute most significantly to a longer and happier life. For healthy aging, relationships are more important than diet or exercise. Buffett agrees, having said, "At my age, the measure of success in life depends on how many of the people who want to love me actually love me."

Fortune concluded, "The greatest lesson Buffett offers is a childlike spirit and focusing on what you love," emphasizing, "Enjoy the present and do what truly makes you happy." In a 2017 CNBC interview, Buffett said, "I think happiness makes a huge difference in longevity," adding, "I am happier when I eat hot fudge sundaes or drink cola."