Warren Buffett, the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, is worth nearly $150 billion as of early February 2025. He has three children: Howard, Susan, and Peter. In November 2024, he posted a letter to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders discussing how he planned on dispersing his wealth.
He also gave advice to parents that he felt applied “whether they are of modest or staggering wealth.”
In his letter, Buffett wrote that the one thing he suggests to parents is to have their adult kids read their will and not sign it until they’ve done so. He explained that this prevents any surprises after death and gives them an idea of what they should expect when the time comes. “If any have questions or suggestions, listen carefully and adopt those found sensible.
You don’t want your children asking ‘Why?’ in respect to testamentary decisions when you are no longer able to respond,” Buffett wrote.
Transparent estate planning with heirs
He emphasized that it’s not enough just to show children the will; they have to grasp exactly what each part means.
“Be sure each child understands both the logic for your decisions and the responsibilities they will encounter upon your death.”
Buffett wrote that showing children the will before the parents die can help prevent infighting among family members, who might otherwise be left “confused and sometimes angry.” If families have a sense of how the estate was planned, this can prevent disagreements about who gets what. Referring to his longtime business partner Charlie Munger, Buffett added, “Charlie and I also witnessed a few cases where a wealthy parent’s will that was fully discussed before death helped the family become closer. What could be more satisfying?”
As far as Buffett’s own estate planning, he wrote in the letter that he would be donating $1.1 billion of his Berkshire Hathaway shares to his family’s four foundations.
He added that his three children would be responsible for distributing the rest of his holdings after he dies. Buffett has also included a “unanimous decision” provision, which dictates that all three children must agree on what to do with the money that’s left to them for philanthropic efforts. If one child says no, then they must respect that child’s wishes.
Warren Buffett’s advice underscores the importance of transparency and communication in estate planning, which can help ensure a smooth transition and preserve family harmony.
