Most people have certain ideas on how the richest people in the world live, with visions of billionaires getting to indulge their every whim, especially when it comes to food. While some may think that all rich people head to a Paris bistro via private jet for a quick breakfast, Warren Buffett may surprise you, as the third richest man in the world has simpler tastes compared to others.
CNBC reports that while his contemporaries live in mansions, the 86-year-old still lives in the five-bedroom home in Omaha, Nebraska, that he bought in 1958 for $31,500. Moreover, Buffett is quite frugal when it comes to his meals, as he never spends more than $3.17 on breakfast.
In the HBO documentary “Becoming Warren Buffett,” the tycoon revealed that for the past 54 years, he has been stopping by McDonald’s to order one of three items for his first meal of the day.
Buffett said that every morning, he asks his wife to put either $2.61, $2.95 or $3.17 in change in a little cup in his car. Each amount corresponds to a different menu item in the popular fast food chain.
“When I’m not feeling so prosperous, I might go with the $2.61, which is two sausage patties, and then I put them together and pour myself a Coke,” said Buffett. In the documentary, Buffett ordered a sausage, egg, and cheese, which totals $2.95.
Buffett is one of a handful of billionaires who choose to live a frugal lifestyle. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg is known for wearing the same thing every day—a grey t-shirt and blue jeans. Instead of a Bentley, the father-of-one drives a manual transmission Volkswagen hatchback, according to Business Insider.
Dish Network chairman Charlie Ergen is also notoriously frugal, as the self-made billionaire packs a lunch of a sandwich and Gatorade before work every day. Meanwhile, IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad still flies economy and frequently rides the bus.
At a shareholder’s meeting in 2014, Buffett explained that he has chosen to live a modest life, simply because he’s happy with everything that he has.
“It’d be worse if I had six or eight houses,” said Buffett. “So, I have everything I need to have, and I don’t need any more because it doesn’t make a difference after a point.”
For more, check out Jobs & Hire’s report on the important lesson that Bill Gates learned from his 4th grade teacher.
