Warren Buffett is celebrating his 96th birthday, his first since stepping down as Berkshire Hathaway CEO, while remaining chairman. The occasion highlights a career that transformed a failing textile mill into a $1 trillion conglomerate, from his first stock purchase at 11 to major investments in Coca-Cola and Apple. Buffett’s investing legacy also includes Berkshire’s full acquisition of Geico, shareholder letters that became essential investor reading, and a $7 billion loss on airline holdings sold during the pandemic. In 2026, successor Greg Abel initiated a Delta Air Lines position and increased it by 44% in the second quarter, offering an early indication of Berkshire’s post-Buffett investment direction.