Warren Buffett, Genius Porn Stars, and Treasure
Even with the economic decline, Warren Buffett’s net worth stands at $37 billion dollars, give or take a few million. At the outset, please understand I hold nothing against Mr. Buffett. Having recently devoured his authorized biography, Snowball, I fully note his genius, his wit, his consistency, in the modest life he lives. I even intend to follow his investment methods. Yet, this highly favorable, unabashedly fawning biography highlights some significant lowlights to Warren’s magnificent life.
Specifically, of his three children, none graduated from college, even though one attended prestigious Stanford University and almost completed his degree. His three children managed to wrack up four divorces. At 50, his wife Susie moved out, and left Nebraska for good, establishing her own separate life in beautiful Laguna Beach, California. She established various separate relationships with old flames, and her one-time tennis instructor, among others. While Warren and his wife continued to be married and affectionate until her death in 2006, Warren established a common law marital relationship in Omaha with Astrid Menks, and made no bones about it. After his legal wife’s death, Warren and Astrid married.
Money, it seems, guarantees neither perfect children, perfectly happy children, or serene and blissful marital harmony.
Asia Carrera, studied piano as a child, played Carnagie Hall at 14, starred as a state spelling champ, Math team champ, and won a full ride academic scholarship to Rutgers. Where is she today? She recently announced her retirement from the world of pornographic films, where she scored many leading roles in films with titles not appropriate for a Christian newsletter. Why? According to her web site (I boast of no familiarity with her films), she cites demanding parents who never found her successes sufficient, who pushed her too hard until she snapped, and just ran off into the night, and ultimately, pornography. With brains and exceptional beauty, it made for easy money to be a porn queen.
Asia’s hero? Warren Buffett. She follows his successes as a true fan, and, like me, hopes to emulate his financial investment success.
Brains, it seems, guarantees neither automatic financial success nor contentment with choices made by others, including parents, no matter how well-intended, and apparently wise, compared to the choices made by the aforementioned genius. Will she treasure her legacy?
Jesus, of course, offered a few words on treasure. According to the gospel of Matthew 6:19, he warns: “Do not store up treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up yourselves treasures in Heaven…For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
To his credit, Warren announced a spectacular foundation that will receive the great bulk of his wealth upon his death. No Christian he, I wonder if some of Jesus’ ideas seem to be making more sense to him as he heads towards the end of the trail. Does Warren regret the early pursuit of wealth that may have contributed to the tribulations of his private life?
As we ourselves abruptly now come to the end of our gilded age of financial aggrandizement and look at the cost of our wealth acquisition spree, individually and as a nation, does a different sort of treasure now possess more appeal? While we breath, it’s never too late to seek a better sort of treasure.
Copyright 2010 – David J. Carr