Warren Buffett, who turns 96 this summer, is bringing back his famous annual luncheon after a four-year hiatus. But this year, the format is getting a makeover. The retired billionaire investor is partnering with Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation (ELP), a Bay Area non-profit founded by NBA star Stephen Curry and his wife, Ayesha.
Buffett presented the annual luncheon in 2000 to benefit the GLIDE Foundation of San Francisco, a nonprofit social justice organization focused on fighting poverty and inequality. Except for two years of the pandemic, he kept the tradition until 2022, helping to raise more than that $54 million in twenty years. The highest winning bid at this event came in 2022, when an anonymous donor paid a record-breaking $19 million.
After Buffett’s suspension, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff he came in to continue the inheritance, raising $1.5 million of GLIDE in 2024. Now, Buffett is returning to host his first charity lunch since retiring as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway in 2025.
Bidding for the 2026 lunch is now open on eBay on May 7, with the winner and seven guests invited to join Buffett and the Currys for a private reception in Buffett’s hometown of Omaha, Neb. June 24.
Traditionally, the lunch was headlined by Buffett himself. The new iteration, however, will focus on an international conversation, with a partnership between Buffett and the Currys. The couple founded ELP in 2019 to provide school children in Oakland, California with nutritious meals, educational tools and sports opportunities. This year’s partnership will split profits between GLIDE and ELP.
Buffett said his first break came when he “ran out of gas” at age 92. The recent death of GLIDE founder Reverend Cecil Williams inspired him to bring the event back. “He wanted it to continue,” Buffett told CNBC this week. He went on to say that this year’s revival aims to attract a younger partner who can carry on the culture that goes with the Currys.
In a further show of generosity, Buffett announced that he would personally match this year’s winning bid, splitting his donation equally between GLIDE and ELP.
“What’s so powerful about this moment is that it honors everything Warren has built while opening the door to what philanthropy can look like going forward,” said Chris Helfrich, President and CEO of Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation, he told the Observer. “By bringing Stephen and Ayesha into it, that impact is magnified in a real way. It introduces new energy, new audiences and ultimately expands what we’re able to do for the communities we support.”
Buffett praised the Currys’ commitment to Oakland’s youth, telling CNBC: “They have a deep and ongoing interest in helping Oakland’s children enjoy a better future, and, in a big way, they have given life to that belief.”
Previous luncheons have often included GLIDE leaders and have been held at Smith & Wollensky Steakhouse in New York City. This year’s event will move to an as-yet-undisclosed Omaha venue chosen by Buffett.
The winners are gone The charity auction includes Chinese crypto entrepreneur Justin Sun and hedge fund manager Ted Weschler, who later joined Berkshire Hathaway as an investment manager after winning in 2011.
Online bidding for the 2026 lunch begins May 7 at 7:30 pm PT and closes May 14 at the same time. Interested participants must complete a eligibility form with their name, address, occupation, social media handles and group affiliation. Bidding starts at $50,000, although past auctions have often exceeded $1 million.
