Warren Buffett is bringing back his signature charity luncheon, this time joined by basketball superstar Stephen Curry and Ayesha Curry. The event will take place on June 24 in Omaha, Nebraska, and the opportunity to dine with the trio will be awarded through an online auction hosted on eBay.
Bidding is scheduled to run from May 7 through May 14. The successful bidder will be allowed to invite up to seven guests to the lunch, joining Buffett and the Currys at the table. The event is being staged in Omaha, where Buffett's conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway is based.
Charitable beneficiaries and Buffett's pledge
Proceeds from the auction will be divided equally between two charities: the Glide Foundation and Eat. Learn. Play. Buffett has told CNBC he will match the winning bidder's donation, effectively doubling the amount that goes to the two organizations.
Glide is a San Francisco nonprofit located in the Tenderloin district that provides services to people experiencing poverty, homelessness and substance abuse. Eat. Learn. Play. was founded by Stephen and Ayesha Curry and concentrates on three areas: nutritious meals, childhood literacy and promoting physically active lifestyles.
Star power and public statements
The inclusion of Stephen Curry could broaden interest in the auction. Curry is a four-time National Basketball Association champion and a two-time Most Valuable Player. Buffett described the Golden State Warriors guard as "the hero of millions and millions of people."
In a joint statement, Stephen and Ayesha Curry said the auction could deliver practical help to students and families across the San Francisco area. "Access can open doors, but what matters most is what you do with it," they said.
Buffett's philanthropy and history with Glide
Buffett, now 95, has committed nearly all of his fortune to charitable causes and has expressed a long-standing view that businesses and nonprofits can collaborate to produce meaningful change. His personal connection to Glide dates back to his first wife, Susan, who introduced him to the organization while volunteering there; she died in 2004.
Over the span of 21 auctions held between 2000 and 2022, Buffett raised approximately $53.2 million for Glide. The most recent winning bid reached $19 million, a figure that exceeded the prior record by more than four times.
Glide was long led by Cecil Williams and his wife Janice Mirikitani. Janice Mirikitani died in 2021, and Cecil Williams died in 2024. Williams also served as pastor of the affiliated Glide Memorial Church. Reflecting on Williams' approach, Buffett said, "He believed everybody was worthwhile and the world had given up on these people." Buffett added, "He never gave up on anybody."
Corporate role and succession
Buffett served as chief executive of Berkshire Hathaway for 60 years before Greg Abel took over on January 1. Buffett retains his position as chairman of the company.
The upcoming auction and luncheon renew a long-running fundraising tradition that has combined high-profile public figures, direct donor engagement and targeted charitable allocations. The exact amount that will be raised by this specific auction will be determined by bidding during the May 7-14 window, with Buffett's matching pledge set to increase the final donation to the two designated charities.