Does Warren Buffett Have Asperger Syndrome and Does This Make Him Financially Gifted?

Before I tell you about Warren Buffett, I first need to lay some groundwork for the article because there are some very common misconceptions about Asperger syndrome, and in this particular case, I mean it as a compliment to Warren Buffett’s extraordinary abilities to think that he has this.

Asperger syndrome (sometimes abbreviated as “asperger” or “AS”) is the name now used for a mild form of autism that is believed to affect 1 in 300 people. People with Asperger’s syndrome are often affectionately referred to as “aspias” by those who love them. Most experts do not consider Asperger’s to be a “mental disorder” but rather a rare neurological phenotype. Asps often appear “eccentric”. They are sometimes considered “weirdos” by others, but many integrate so well into society that no one would guess they have aspergers. Depends on the person.

Many aspies have a very high IQ. In fact, some display “out of the box” intelligence. The most famous aspies throughout history have been mostly talented artists and scientists like Mozart and Einstein or technicians like Bill Gates. However, aspies can also be financial geniuses because many are very good with numbers and possess other traits that can make them exceptionally good at understanding business and selecting stocks (see below).

Warren Buffett, the most famous investor the world has ever known and certainly considered quite eccentric, is rumored to have Asperger’s or some other close form of mild autism. This, of course, is a “pop diagnosis” because, to my knowledge, there has never been any official announcement that Warren Buffett has been officially diagnosed with Asperger’s. However, at the very least, it demonstrates many of the traits and quirks commonly associated with asps.

Many aspies are very resistant to change, especially in their personal lives. It is very interesting that one of the richest men in the entire world still lives in a very humble house in Omaha Nebraska, the same house that he has lived in since 1958! He eats at the same restaurant almost every day and almost always orders the same rather bland food. Most of his day, every day, he is spent reading financial reports and periodicals, and he rarely strays from this routine. In fact, he has fixed routines and does not like to see them changed. You consider them to be “distractions” from your ability to work.

People with Asperger syndrome often have some trouble interacting socially with other people. They also tend to have some internal and personal emotional problems with those closest to them. They are not really “antisocial” as some people assume because they sometimes like to be sociable (but not all the time) and seek close ties with family and friends. However, they often have difficulties in this department.

Many who have worked with Warren Buffett over the years have commented on how strange he is and how he can sometimes blurt out “inappropriate” statements. They sometimes comment on their lack of other social graces. Buffett has freely admitted in interviews how socially uncomfortable he was when he was young. The very idea of ​​standing in front of people and talking made him want to vomit. He was also not very successful in the bridal department, and many classmates considered him a “know-it-all” and difficult to get along with. However, when he was young, Buffett discovered Dale Carnegie’s book, “How to Win Friends and Influence People,” and put it to the test in his real life. He was quite impressed with the results and then took Dale Carnegie’s leadership training course. Buffett attributes this course to his success in business and in other areas of his life. You proudly display your certificate of completion in your office, but don’t display your college diplomas! That should tell you how much you value your training at Dale Carnegie.

Regarding his abilities with interpersonal emotional issues, Warren Buffett’s family, including his deceased first wife and son, have made public statements about how difficult it is and was to connect with him emotionally. It’s pretty clear that he deeply loves his family, but expressing this seems to be more of a problem than most people.

There are many other traits that Warren Buffett also exhibits that are known traits of mild autism. It is well known that you can be painfully honest; some say “honest to the extreme”. Although he usually wears a business suit, he is often disheveled. When I was a kid, I had some very unusual interests. He read toy train catalogs for hours, tossed pennies down the tub and timed them over and over again, recorded passing car license plates, memorized unusual facts, and sat and watched for hours. Unusual “hobbies” like spotting the square roots and cube roots of large numbers on license plates. Experts have pointed out that these are traits very similar to those of an asp.

It’s easy to see how some of Warren Buffett’s traits that could be considered similar to Asperger’s have helped him become the extraordinarily talented investor that he is. For starters, he has the uncanny ability to hyper-focus for very long periods of time, and he can do this on subjects that would bore most people. Also, it has continued to do this for years. This hyper focus is not a trait that most people can duplicate, no matter how hard they try, and it is a known aspie trait.

“Fluid intelligence”, which I personally believe Warren Buffet probably has, is a special type of intelligence that has been shown to be present in highly intelligent Aspergians. It is a true gift and allows one to see connections between topics that most people, even smart people, cannot see. It also allows a person to recognize patterns and trends very easily. I think this “fluid intelligence” may be another fundamental clue to why Buffett is such a talented investor and why it is very difficult to truly imitate him.

Warren Buffett does not appear to be affected by the same “peer pressure” that most investors are subject to. In fact, it seems to pride itself on being different and challenging Wall Street paradigms. Doesn’t seem to care much if it’s different. This is a very rare trait that I believe has allowed him to amass a fortune by developing his own unique and highly successful trading style that has evolved over the years to accommodate his increasing amounts of wealth.

Most aspies develop what are generally called “special interests,” which are intense interests in esoteric and / or unusual subjects. Aspies will do their best to learn absolutely everything there is to know about their special interest topics. They often have a genius-level sage skill in their special interest. These usually start in childhood and Warren Buffett’s interest in making money and the financial world certainly began in childhood. Furthermore, he continued to pursue this special interest with an intensity rarely seen in other people.

In interviews, Warren Buffett himself has said that he believes he is “wired differently” to most people. Based on my research, I agree with him and believe that he demonstrates many traits that are common in those who have been diagnosed with Asperger syndrome. I also believe that these very special traits are the reason why he is so financially gifted. The human race is very lucky that these rare individuals appear so frequently. Given all that he has taught other investors and the huge donations to charities that he has made so generously recently, he has become one of the most influential people of all time and I believe he will continue to have a positive impact for generations to come. .

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