70: Berkshire Debrief; Gabelli Interview; Ted Weschler Interview; BRK Fanboy Pics; Jack Bogle Memory

What a weekend!

May 07, 2022

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Finally recovered

If you follow Berkshire Hathaway you’ll know the festivities were last weekend. It’s taken me this long to recover and (almost) respond to all the messages and notes I’ve received. It’s been exhausting but exhilarating at the same time. Still, it’s taken me a week to recover - it’s just who I am. Anyway, here are a few tidbits from an amazing four days in Omaha.

Very Rare Ted Weschler Interview: Nebraska Furniture Mart had Ted on their podcast. If you haven’t listened already, definitely do. It has lots of new pieces of background I never knew about Ted, including his reading habits.

Gabelli Funds Panel Interview: I had the great honor of sharing the stage with Chris Bloomstran, where we were both interviewed by Mac Sykes, who works directly for/with Mario Gabelli. I had the chance to spend some time with Mario and can tell you he’s a class act.

Speaking of class acts, I was lucky to catch Jamie Dimon, who stopped for a quick chat and photo.

Sold!

I spent an unbelievable five hours signing books. We sold out of 144 copies in five hours. That’s a rate of one about every two minutes. I’m grateful to have met some wonderful people from all over the world who stopped by to say hello and chat. You guys are truly amazing! I thought there’d be five people like me who liked to geek out on BRK financials - turns out I was wrong, in a good way. Thank you, thank you!!!

My daughter gave me this for my efforts. Ranks right up there with the letter I received from Warren.

A Few More Pics:

Fellow shareholder, Bill Murray was at the meeting. He did a funny skit with Buffett for the in-person-only pre-meeting movie.

Wonderful seeing Jake Taylor at the Markel Brunch on Sunday. We were both running on fumes at this point.

Vitaliy Katsenelson, Morgan Housel, and me at the Markel brunch. All Harriman House authors.

With Brooks CEO, Jim Weber. I had the chance to speak with their CFO, Tom, as well as another wonderful employee, Robert, who sold me a pair of shoes.

Pat Egan, who came from BRK Energy, now runs See’s Candies. They brought (and sold) 11 TONS of candy to Omaha.

With Benjamin Moore Chairman/CEO, Dan Calkins

With Katie Farmer, BNSF Railway CEO. Interestingly, one of my neighbors works for BSNF in receivables here in New Hampshire. Who would have thought! She buys me a cool BNSF calendar each year.

My good friends, Andrew Wagner and Carter Johnson. I met both of them at separate times over the years and we’ve become great friends. We stayed at an Airbnb house together this year. The BRK group/culture is incredible. Watching the annual meeting from home in no way comes close to actually being there.

Give Andrew a follow here.

Carter writes a great newsletter here.