Warren Buffett is renowned as one of the most successful investors of all time, but his first wife, Susan, helped explain the driving force behind his achievements and principles. 

In a rare interview with Charlie Rose before she died in 2004, Susan Buffett provided intimate insights into her husband’s mindset, their loving marriage and his views on creating a level playing field for all.

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Susan Buffett shared insights into the profound bond she shared with her husband, emphasizing the deep love that sustained their relationship. She recounted how deeply he loved her, saying “I don’t know that anyone’s ever been more loved.” 

Warren Buffett credited her with shaping him into the man he became and contributing to the success of his company Berkshire Hathaway Inc. From early on, Warren Buffett was relentlessly ambitious and told people “I am going to be the richest man.” Though it seemed a little far-fetched at the time, Susan Buffett humored him, recognizing his fierce determination to reach the pinnacle of wealth. 

What set Warren Buffett apart, in his wife's view, was his genius-level intellect combined with a competitive spirit. 

“Geniuses can be lonely and isolated,” she said, noting he was extremely smart yet “not really well-adjusted” when they met. But she was drawn to his wit and humor. His brilliance, channeled into analyzing companies and investments, gave him an edge.

Susan Buffett stressed that her husband's obsession wasn’t just about accumulating money for its own sake. 

“The crux of it is it wasn’t the money itself," she said. "You can see that by the way he lives and he doesn’t buy huge paintings or build big houses or anything like that. It’s all mental with him and the money is a scorecard.”

At the core was Warren Buffett’s hyper-competitiveness and belief that he could outwit everyone else. Susan Buffett recalled him saying, “Everybody can read what I read. It’s a level playing field.” She explained that he loved that because of his competitiveness, “He loves the idea that he’s going to win."

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While the couple sometimes disagreed over philanthropic giving, with Susan Buffett wanting to donate more, she understood her husband's fundamental motivation. It was about proving his superior investment acumen in an ostensibly fair battle of wits, not just endlessly accumulating riches. His obsessive work ethic and self-belief, supported by his wife's love, propelled his incredible success.

Since Susan Buffett's death, Warren Buffett has donated more than $51 billion to charitable causes. Buffett's donations and signing of the Giving Pledge show how meaningless money is to him beyond that scorekeeping competitiveness. 

That’s an easy mindset to have when you’re one of the richest people in the world. But for those trying to ensure they have enough saved for a comfortable retirement, strategic financial planning is key — and sometimes just reading the same information as everyone else isn’t enough. 

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