Warren Buffett, who turns 96 this summer, is returning to his famous annual charity luncheon after a four-year hiatus. But this year, the format has been updated. The retired billionaire investor teams up with Eat. He learns. He plays. ELP Foundation, a Bay Area non-profit organization founded by NBA star Stephen Curry and his wife Ayesha.
Buffett launched the annual charity luncheon in 2000 to benefit the GLIDE Foundation in San Francisco, a social justice nonprofit focused on combating poverty and inequality. With the exception of two years of the pandemic, he maintained this tradition until 2022, and helped raise more than 54 million dollars Over two decades. The highest winning bid at the event came in 2022, when an anonymous donor paid a record $19 million.
After Buffett stopped… Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff I stepped in to continue the legacy and raise $1.5 million for GLIDE in 2024. Now, Buffett returns to host his first charity lunch since retiring as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway in 2025.
Bidding opens for lunch 2026 On eBay on May 7, with a winner and seven guests invited to join Buffett and the Currys for a special experience in Buffett’s hometown of Omaha, Nebraska, on June 24.
Traditionally, the lunch has spotlighted Buffett himself. However, the new iteration will focus on a collaborative, multi-generational discussion between Buffett and Curry. The couple founded ELP in 2019 to provide school children in Oakland, California with nutritious meals, educational tools, and athletic opportunities. This year’s partnership will split proceeds between GLIDE and ELP.
Buffett said his initial hiatus began when he “ran out of gas” at age 92. The recent death of GLIDE co-founder Rev. Cecil Williams inspired him to bring back the event. “All he wanted was for this to continue,” Buffett told CNBC this week.. He added that the revival this year aims to attract a younger partner who can continue the tradition alongside the Curry family.
In an additional show of generosity, Buffett announced that he will personally match this year’s winning bid, splitting his contribution equally between GLIDE and ELP.
“What’s powerful about this moment is that it honors everything Warren has built while opening the door to what philanthropy can look like in the future,” said Chris Helfrich, president and CEO of Eat. He learns. He plays. The foundation told the Observer newspaper. “By bringing Stephen and Aisha into this, that impact expands in a very real way. It introduces new energy, new audiences and ultimately increases what we can do for the communities we support.”
Buffett praised the Carey family’s dedication to Oakland’s youth, telling CNBC: “They have a deep and abiding interest in helping Oakland’s children have a better future, and in a big way, they brought that belief to life. Stephen did not seek approval or funding from others on any scale.”
Past lunches have often included GLIDE leaders and have been held at Smith & Wollensky Steakhouse in New York City. This year’s event will move to a yet-to-be-disclosed Omaha location chosen by Buffett.
Previous winners Participants in the charity auction include Chinese businessman Justin Sun and hedge fund manager Ted Weschler, who later joined Berkshire Hathaway as investment manager after winning in 2011.
Online bidding for the 2026 lunch begins on May 7 at 7:30 PM PT and ends on May 14 at the same time. Interested participants must complete a Pre-qualification form With their names, addresses, profession, social media handles and group affiliations. Bidding starts at $50,000, although previous auctions have routinely exceeded $1 million.
