In mid-October 2008, with blood all over the streets, Warren Buffett penned a New York Times column: ‘Buy America. I am.’ Amid mass hysteria, the Oracle of Omaha made another contrarian move in a career defined by them. He predicted some of the U.S.’s most outstanding companies would set profit records in five, 10, and 20 years. It proved to be a dead-on forecast, as the March 2009 low marked the beginning of a long-standing bull market. A simple rule dictated his buying then, as it always has: Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful. Over the past 80 years, the mantra has helped make him the richest investor.

By age 30, Buffett had amassed a net worth of $1 million, or $9.3 million adjusted for inflation. He’s invested through wars, bubbles, panics, recessions, and political environments. He’s made nearly all of his wealth (roughly $113 billion) after his 65th birthday, a masterclass in the power of compound interest. In an era of constant notifications, price reminders, and trading apps, Buffett’s approach continues to stand out. His company, Berkshire Hathaway, has delivered a compounded annual gain of 19.8% since 1965. 

“If you aren't willing to own a stock for 10 years, don't even think about owning it for 10 minutes...

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