Warren Buffett, the 95-year-old legendary investor and Berkshire Hathaway founder, has directed that 90% of the cash his wife inherits after his death be invested in a low-cost S&P 500 index fund, according to his 2013 shareholder letter. The remaining 10% should go into short-term government bonds. Buffett’s net worth now stands at $140 billion, built from a stock market run of 6,099,294% since 1964. The S&P 500 index has risen from 1,400 in 2013 to nearly 7,700 in 2026, a gain of nearly 450% despite market turmoil.
In a letter to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders in 2013, Warren Buffett outlined his plan and directives in his will. The will states that a trust will give only 10% of the inherited cash to his wife, with that portion invested in short-term government bonds.
“One bequest provides that cash will be delivered to a trustee for my wife’s benefit,” Buffett wrote. “My advice to the trustee could not be more simple: Put 10% of the cash in short-term government bonds and 90% in a very low-cost S&P 500 index fund.”
The S&P 500 index was at 1,400 in 2013 when Buffett made his will. It is now close to 7,700 in 2026, representing a rise of nearly 450% despite experiencing a decade of turmoil.
Buffett, who has been in the market for more than six decades, has seen an overall gain of 6,099,294% from 1964 to 2025. His net worth currently stands at $140 billion in 2026, with roughly 99% of his fortune derived from the stock market.
