Warren Buffett Spent 71 Years of His Life Married — And Says The Secret to a Long-Lasting Marriage Is Finding 'Someone With Low Expectations'

Warren Buffett has built a legacy on smart investing, sharp wit, and, apparently, relationship advice that's as practical as his portfolio strategy. 

His secret to a long-lasting marriage? "If you want a marriage to last, look for someone with low expectations." Buffett dropped this gem back in 2015 at Fortune's Most Powerful Women Summit, and while it might sound like classic Buffett humor, there's a deeper philosophy behind it.

At first glance, it's a self-deprecating joke. But if you look at how Buffett approaches both relationships and investing, you'll see a pattern: managing expectations, minimizing risk, and playing the long game.

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A Lifetime of Partnership

Buffett's life has been shaped by two women—Susan Buffett and Astrid Menks—who each played vital roles in different chapters of his journey. He was married to Susan for over 50 years until her passing in 2004, and in 2006, he married Astrid, whom Susan had introduced to him years earlier. Between the two, Buffett has spent 71 years in marriage.

He has been open about how profoundly Susan influenced him. In the 2017 HBO documentary "Becoming Warren Buffett," he credited her as the driving force behind his personal and professional growth, saying, "What happened with me would not have happened without her." She encouraged his philanthropy, helped shape his public image, and supported him through his rise to becoming one of the most successful investors in history.

And yet, life doesn't always go as planned. While Buffett and Susan lived apart for decades before her passing, their bond remained strong. It was Susan who introduced him to her friend Astrid — the woman who would later become his wife. Buffett acknowledged the significance of both women in his life in "The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life," saying, "Susie put me together, and Astrid keeps me together."

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There's a lesson in that as well. Expectations shift. Circumstances change. Relationships evolve. What matters is choosing partners who bring out the best in you—who support, understand, and sustain you through life's twists and turns.

What Buffett Meant By Low Expectations

Buffett has spoken multiple times about how marriage is the most important decision a person can make. "You want to associate with people who are the kind of person you'd like to be," he said in a 2017 conversation with Bill Gates. "And the most important person by far in that respect is your spouse." In other words, Buffett sees marriage the way he sees business partnerships—choose wisely, because it will shape everything else in your life.

The "low expectations" part? That's Buffett's way of acknowledging that unrealistic standards can doom both marriages and investments. The key isn't to settle—it's to understand that perfection doesn't exist, whether you're picking a spouse or a stock.

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Applying Buffett's Marriage Advice to Investing

Buffett's investment strategy mirrors his relationship philosophy in several ways:

• Margin of Safety: In investing, Buffett buys stocks at a price lower than their intrinsic value to create a buffer against potential losses. In marriage, keeping expectations reasonable prevents disappointment and encourages appreciation.

• Long-Term Perspective: Buffett likens wealth accumulation to rolling a snowball down a long hill, requiring patience and time. The same goes for relationships—longevity comes from consistent effort, not instant gratification.
• Value Over Hype: Buffett doesn't chase trendy stocks; he invests in businesses with strong fundamentals. In relationships, this translates to choosing a partner based on character and compatibility rather than fleeting attraction or societal pressure.

Why This Approach Works

Buffett's philosophy of keeping expectations in check has helped him navigate market fluctuations and build a multi-billion-dollar empire. The same principle applies to relationships: success comes from setting realistic expectations, adapting over time, and focusing on long-term value rather than short-term gains.

So whether you're picking a stock or a spouse, Buffett's advice is the same: don't expect perfection—just choose wisely, think long-term, and appreciate the real value in front of you.

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