I flew to Omaha to cover Warren Buffett's annual meeting. I didn't know I would witness the creation of history.
I joined Berkshire shareholders' little guy for the Brooks 5K run.Theron Mohamed/Bi
I traveled from London to Omaha and covered Warren Buffett's annual business insider conference.
The biggest news of my career ended up breaking out while I was there.
I immersed myself in Buffett’s weekend and had an unforgettable time.
I flew from London to Warren Buffett's home town of Omaha to cover Berkshire Hathaway's annual shareholder meeting. I didn’t expect the world’s biggest business story to break down when I was there.
The revelation of Buffett’s plan to quit as Berkshire CEO at the end of this year is the headlines of my trip. But I also saw rare treasures, talked to people from all walks of life, visited legendary locations, and discovered how Buffett and his businesses were almost everywhere in Omaha.
My reporting journey has a dream start.
My companions showed me the Berkshire Hathaway Class B Stock Certificate.Theron Mohamed/Bi
My nine-hour flight from London to Chicago became even more fun when I learned that my companions had made the same pilgrimage.
His value investor in his 30s, who wishes to be named, showed me the Berkshire Class B Stock Certificate (signed by Buffett in 2005) that his company has used him as proof of ownership and that he needs to obtain a conference pass.
He told me that when his wife asked why he went to Omaha so excitedly, he replied, “Imagine you are a Christian and you have the opportunity to meet Jesus Christ.”
A few hours later, Buffett's face looked up at me from the Kindle on his knee as he was reading "Tap Dancing To Gorking."
Arriving in Omaha, it was obvious that it was Berkshire Turf.
Wink ads on the walls of Eppley Airfield.Theron Mohamed/Bi
I took a connecting flight from Chicago to Omaha and arrived Thursday night.
A popular ad on the airport wall asks visitors to "view your SPAC, Crypto and Ebitda at the door" - a disdain for Buffett and his late business partner, Charlie Munger, which is a disdain for risky, speculative and volatile assets.
Munger calls the spread of special-purpose acquisition tools or gaskets a "moral failure" and regards Bitcoin as "stupid", "evil" and "rat poison." He also described the earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization as "nonsense income."
Omaha businesses are ready for Berkshire weekend.
The airport's Hudson News Store displays a variety of Berkshire-related games.Theron Mohamed/Bi
Every year, thousands of Berkshire shareholders pour into Omaha, emitting opportunities for many local companies.
The Hudson News Store at the airport has several areas specifically targeting Berkshire books and other financial champions, including "Poor Charlie's Almanack" and "Buffett and Munger."
Another airport restaurant has a See candy stall and Berkshire logo welcomes its shareholders.
I took a taxi to Doubletree in Hilton, downtown Omaha. There is a banner in front of the hotel, welcomes Berkshire shareholders, with a similar display outside the elevator on my floor.
Berkshire's big craze evolves with each acquisition.
Berkshire-owned pilots serve coffee outside the Chi Health Center.Theron Mohamed/Bi
This is my third annual meeting and I've always wondered how it changed to reflect Buffett's deal.
The conglomerate added Squishmallows your owner Jazwares to exhibitors after acquiring Alleghany, the parent of the toy company, in 2022.
Squishmallows is one of the largest exhibitors on Berkshire Shareholder Shopping Day this year, showing off numerous displays and interactive events.
Berkshire acquired full ownership of the Pilot Travel Center in early 2024. Pilot staff sell coffee outside the Chi Health Center conference venue. Internally, the company offers everything from Berkshire Blend Coffee to T-shirts with Buffett quotes.
Buffett's super fans work.
Wan Xue and a friend received a shareholder pass on Friday.Theron Mohamed/Bi
Wan Xue (or "Cathy" 33) from China received her shareholder pass on Friday. She told me she had purchased 11 books on this trip and planned to buy more.
She said she plans to see everything related to Buffett and has visited his birthplace and school as well as the Berkshire headquarters.
A large number of Buffett experts are in town.
Investors John Rogers, Chris Marangi and Mario Gabelli spoke at the Gabelli Foundation Conference.Theron Mohamed/Bi
Senior investors, including billionaire Mario Gabelli and former financial assistant Tracy Britt Cool, spoke at the meeting the day before Buffett's Q&A.
Tariffs, trade wars, recession, frustration and other crises are “good for Berkshire” when creating buying opportunities, fund manager Chris Bloomstran said at the Gabaili Foundation meeting. He added: "Creating a little pain."
After the meeting, I asked Gabailey directly because of his current market turmoil and how he felt about owning Berkshire stock.
He shrugged, saying he first met with Buffett at Columbia Business School more than 50 years ago and sold only Berkshire to prevent his portfolio from becoming too concentrated.
At a meeting at her company Kanbrick, Britt Cool shared a memorable suggestion Buffett has been in charge of long-term management: “Think about this business as if it’s the only asset of your family that you can’t sell for 50 years.”
After Buffett’s bombshell, I headed to the Nebraska Furniture Fair for a shareholder picnic.
Mrs. B’s cleaning and exit in Omaha.Theron Mohamed/Bi
After Buffett shocked the world with his retirement plan, I left the press and spoke with several Dunbsk shareholders.
Once everything calmed down, I took a taxi to the Nebraska Furniture Fair for a shareholder picnic and saw "Mrs. B's Cleanup and Exit," named after the outstanding lady who built the NFM and sold it to Buffett.
There is a picture of Buffett's face on the front door. NFM stocks Buffett T-shirts and other merchandise and offers a candy franchise throughout See.
The shareholders took over the news of Buffett's withdrawal with good spirit.
Sam McColgan and classmate Vipara Rasphone at NFM picnic.Theron Mohamed/Bi
In the picnic in the NFM parking lot, there are live music, Bocce, barbecue, drinks and many people laughing, taking pictures, playing games or dancing.
Sam McColgan, 31, a graduate student at Stanford University, told me that Buffett felt "a little relieved" to announce his resignation because he would "shock the world" if he still died as CEO.
I even went to shareholders fun
I joined Berkshire shareholders' little guy for the Brooks 5K run.Theron Mohamed/Bi
On Sunday morning, I wore a formal shirt and racing bib to participate in Brooks' 5K run. I love See’s Candy and Oriental Trading staff’s brand team shirts, and the announcer’s text about “Invest in yourself” for a “healthy return.”
I like to travel through the center of the city, but the run wasn't long enough because I interviewed people on the way and had to continue tracing my steps to avoid completing.
The Terminator's medal is satisfactory.
Medals in the competition.Theron Mohamed/Bi
I love the look, feel and weight of the Terminator medal.
The post-match lounge area is set up with breakfast burritos, dairy queen ice cream and energy drinks from Berkshire Hathaway energy stands.
It was fun to tear a label from my race bib and swap it for pilot hot chocolate.
Buffett's retirement was the front page news on Sunday.
Warren Buffett went to the front page after breaking the news of his resignation plan.Theron Mohamed/Bi
On Sunday, I saw Buffett on the front page of his hometown paper in the hotel lobby, and everything I saw became clearer.
Buffett bought the Omaha World Herald for $150 million in late 2011 for $150 million (and $50 million in debt).
People are still dealing with Buffett's bombshell.
Calvin Sowah is one of many shareholders who was surprised by Buffett's resignation.Theron Mohamed/Bi
After taking a shower at the hotel, I rode a lime scooter at Markel's brunch, on my way to the Q&A session held by Buffett.
The second floor is mostly filled with people who bought Berkshire merchandise two days ago, from hats, windbreakers to polo shirts and shoes.
Calvin Sowah, 30, from a New York City venture capitalist, told me that Buffett's casual attitude caught him off guard.
"I didn't expect it," he said. "And he just said coldly, like, 'Oh wait, you're going to retire.'"
A senior shareholder told me that he hopes Buffett continues to share his wisdom.
Martin Wiegand showed me a copy of his Buffett and Munger.Theron Mohamed/Bi
Martin Wiegand, 67, spoke in the corridor outside the Markle shareholders' meeting and told me that he had attended more than 30 Berkshire meetings and owned the stock for about 40 years.
Wiegand said his father was a school friend of Buffett and his parents attended the Berkshire conference.
He told me that he hopes Buffett will continue to speak after deputy Greg Abel takes over as CEO of New Year.
"I hope he won't give up on the microphone and step out of the stage and never hear it again," Wigand said. He continued, "I hope he teaches Coursera courses - there are too many podcasts of some kind." He added that he hopes Buffett continues to show up.
"Warren Buffett is a moral financial power in the United States," he said. "And I think he proved yesterday that he is still the smartest man in Room 94."
On my journey home, Omaha has a final story.
College students John Di Bella and Aidan Sims returned to New York City by plane.Theron Mohamed/Bi
I thought my Berkshire experience was over when I boarded my flight to New York City early Monday morning.
But my companions Aidan Sims and John Di Bella are two finance majors in New York City, and they also travel to see Buffett speak.
Sims said he had a formal date on Friday night but managed to arrive in Omaha in time to watch Buffett's bombshell announcement.
Di Bella told me how he stayed out overnight and got a good seat in Q&A. He played poker on the street, arched the arena once the door opened, and took selfies with Apple CEO Tim Cook and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Opportunity meeting has solidified Omaha in my memory a magical place to meet fascinating people, hear wild stories, visit places of history, and possibly have a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
