Why billionaires live longer and work longer: from Buffett to Soros

At the annual Berkshire Hathaway meeting in May 2025, 95-year-old Warren Buffett took the stage for the 60th — and likely final — time. Wearing his signature red tie and flanked by two Coca-Cola cans (one Cherry, one classic), Buffett joked that the secret to his longevity is a diet of McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, and Dairy Queen — all companies Berkshire has invested in, reports Forbes.

Despite a slightly raspy voice and a subtle stoop, the “Oracle of Omaha” remained sharp, confidently answering questions about market volatility. The highlight of the meeting came when Buffett announced he would step down as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway at the end of the year, nearly six decades after taking over the struggling textile company. “I’ll still be around and may be helpful in some cases,” he said, surprising even his designated successor, Greg Abel, who was unaware of the announcement.

Longevity and Activity Among Billionaires

Buffett is far from the only elderly billionaire who continues to stay active. America’s oldest billionaire, 103-year-old George Joseph, still manages Mercury General, the insurance company he founded in the 1960s, remaining chairman and 35% owner. 94-year-old Rupert Murdoch stepped down as executive chairman of News Corp nearly two years ago but continues to exert significant influence.

Even 95-year-old George Soros remains active in philanthropic projects, despite long retiring from hedge fund management. Currently, the U.S. boasts a record number of billionaires over 90 — 36 in total — with another 150 over 80. By comparison, the average life expectancy in the U.S. is 78.4 years overall, and 75.8 years for men, who dominate the billionaire ranks.

Experts attribute this longevity to access to top-tier healthcare, healthy lifestyles, personal trainers, and high-quality nutrition. Some billionaires implement their own longevity strategies. For example, 102-year-old David Murdock, former majority owner of Dole, followed a plant-based diet with fish, aiming to live to 125, while funding research on nutrition and health.

Secrets to Longevity and Productivity

Many billionaires over 80 credit work as a key to longevity. 89-year-old Charles Koch, chairman and co-chairman of Koch Inc., trains both body and mind daily — reading, writing, and spending 1–1.5 hours on strength and cardio workouts. He believes tackling complex problems keeps the brain sharp.

Similarly, 84-year-old Joe Ricketts continues to work seven days a week, and 91-year-old industrialist Dennis Washington manages his mining, shipbuilding, and heavy machinery enterprises.

Top 10 Oldest American Billionaires

1. George Joseph, 103 — Mercury General, chairman and 35% owner

2. Alice Schwartz, 99 — Bio-Rad Laboratories, co-founder

3. Wilma Tisch, 98 — Loews Corporation, heiress

4. Sidney Kimmel, 97 — Jones New York, founder

5. Alan Gerry, 96 — Cablevision Industries, founder

6. Archie Aldis Emerson, 96 — Sierra Pacific Industries, major private lumber owner

7. Donald Newhouse, 96 — Advance Publications, heir

8. Annette Lerner, 95 — Lerner Enterprises, heiress

9. George Soros, 95 — financier and philanthropist

10. Warren Buffett, 95 — Berkshire Hathaway, CEO since 1970

These examples show that for many billionaires, work is not just a source of income but a way to remain mentally and physically active. For them, age is not a limitation but an opportunity to continue pursuing projects, running businesses, and staying influential in the worlds of finance and investment.