Warren Buffett, the former CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:BRK) (NYSE:BRK), once talked about playing 12 hours of weekly online bridge and being willing to spend millions per year on it, but paid far less because the platform failed to capture his full willingness to pay.
In a viral clip on X, user Ronit Pereira shared Buffett’s old interview with renowned journalist Charlie Rose, where the legendary investor said, “I don’t mind paying $5 million per year for the ability to play online bridge for 12 hours a week. It’s worth it to me.”
He equated the expense to that of owning a second home, which he stated would not hold much value for him.
Buffett, who enjoys playing online bridge with his sister in Carmel, California, and others, values the convenience and immediacy of the online platform. Despite his readiness to pay a substantial amount, his current annual expenditure on the game is around $95.
Besides highlighting Buffett’s love for online bridge, the anecdote also illustrates the concept of consumer surplus, where users retain substantial economic value because service providers lack effective pricing mechanisms to extract maximum revenue.
A Game That Keeps Buffett Sharp
Buffett is widely known for spending up to 80% of his day reading, but one of his favorite pastimes is playing bridge. He told The Washington Post in 2017 that he plays at least four two-hour sessions every week, totaling a minimum of eight hours.
"I play a lot," said the legendary investor.
In a 2019 CNBC interview, Buffett said his years of practice give him little edge over his friend Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), who is also an avid bridge player, noting that he plays roughly 100 times more often than Gates.
“…probably is the only game in the world where I would have a slight edge with him….very slight edge," said Buffett.
When in his 80s, Buffett had said that playing bridge keeps his mind sharp because every hand is unique, offering a new challenge every six or seven minutes.
"It’s a game you can enjoy when you are in your 90s, and you are seeing a different intellectual challenge every seven minutes,” he said.
Buffett and Gates Drift Apart
Meanwhile, things have also changed between the Berkshire Hathaway Chairman and Bill Gates.
Buffett said Gates’ past association with Jeffrey Epstein reflected poor judgment rather than anything more serious, noting he found no evidence beyond mistakes after reviewing congressional testimony. Calling the relationship “distasteful,” Buffett said everyone makes errors in choosing friends.
He also confirmed he will end future donations to the Gates Foundation, saying the move is part of a broader revision of his estate plans, with his three children set to oversee the distribution of his remaining wealth.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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