Charity Auction Wins Private Lunch with Warren Buffett and Stephen Curry

May 15, 2026, 17:05
GlobalFinance

Introduction

An anonymous bidder has won a private meal with famous investor Warren Buffett and basketball star Stephen Curry through a charity auction.

Main Body

The lunch was sold through an eBay auction that ended on Thursday with a winning bid of $9,000,100. Furthermore, Mr. Buffett has promised to match this amount, which will double the total money given to the charities. The funds will be split between the GLIDE Foundation, which helps homeless people in San Francisco, and the 'Eat.Learn.Play.' Foundation, started by Stephen and Ayesha Curry. This event brings back a charitable tradition that Mr. Buffett started in 2000. Between the start of these auctions and the time they stopped, they raised $53 million for the GLIDE Foundation. The value of these lunches increased significantly after 2008, with all winning bids exceeding $1 million and reaching a peak of $19 million in 2022. Although a similar event with Marc Benioff in 2024 raised $1.5 million, it did not last as long. In other news, Mr. Buffett stepped down as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway in January after sixty years, although he is still the chairman. Consequently, he attended the recent annual shareholder meeting as a guest rather than the leader. Meanwhile, Stephen Curry recently returned to the Golden State Warriors' active roster after missing 27 games this season.

Conclusion

The lunch is scheduled to take place next month in Omaha, Nebraska.

Learning

🚀 The 'Logical Bridge' (Connectors)

At the A2 level, students usually use simple words like and, but, or so. To reach B2, you need to use "Advanced Connectors" to show how ideas relate to each other. This article is a goldmine for this.

🔗 The Power Players

Look at these words from the text. They aren't just words; they are signals for the reader:

  • Furthermore →\rightarrow (A2: And also)
    • Use this when you want to add an extra, important point to your argument.
  • Consequently →\rightarrow (A2: So)
    • Use this to show a direct result of an action. It sounds more professional and precise.
  • Meanwhile →\rightarrow (A2: At the same time)
    • Use this to switch the focus to a different person or event happening simultaneously.

🛠ī¸ From Basic to B2 (The Transformation)

A2 Style (Simple):

"Mr. Buffett stepped down as CEO. So, he was a guest at the meeting. And also, he promised to match the money."

B2 Style (Sophisticated):

"Mr. Buffett stepped down as CEO; consequently, he attended the meeting as a guest. Furthermore, he promised to match the winning bid."

💡 Pro Tip for Fluency

Stop using 'And' to start every second sentence. Try starting with 'Furthermore' when adding information or 'Meanwhile' when changing the subject. This small change immediately makes your English sound more academic and fluent.

Vocabulary Learning

anonymous (adj.)
not identified by name or not known
Example:The anonymous bidder paid $9,000,100 for the auction.
bidder (n.)
a person who makes a bid in an auction
Example:The bidder offered a record amount for the charity dinner.
charity (n.)
an organization that raises money for a good cause
Example:The charity auction raised millions for local shelters.
auction (n.)
a sale where items are bought by the highest bid
Example:The auction was held online and attracted many participants.
winning bid (n.)
the highest offer made in an auction
Example:The winning bid was $9,000,100, setting a new record.
promised (v.)
committed to do something
Example:Mr. Buffett promised to match the winning bid.
match (v.)
to equal or correspond in amount
Example:He will match the $9,000,100 bid.
double (v.)
to increase to twice the amount
Example:The match will double the money raised.
charities (n.)
plural of charity; organizations that raise money for good causes
Example:The funds were divided between several charities.
funds (n.)
money collected for a purpose
Example:The funds will support homeless shelters.
split (v.)
to divide into parts
Example:The money will be split between two foundations.
homeless (adj.)
lacking a home or shelter
Example:The foundation helps homeless people in San Francisco.
foundation (n.)
an organization that supports a cause
Example:The GLIDE Foundation works with the homeless.
charitable (adj.)
related to giving to help others
Example:The event is a charitable tradition.
tradition (n.)
a long-established custom or practice
Example:The auction is part of Buffett's charitable tradition.
raised (v.)
to collect or increase money or funds
Example:The auctions raised $53 million over the years.
value (n.)
the worth or amount of something
Example:The value of the lunches rose after 2008.
significantly (adv.)
to a large or important extent
Example:The value increased significantly.
exceeding (adj.)
going beyond a limit or expectation
Example:All winning bids exceeded $1 million.
peak (n.)
the highest point or level
Example:The peak bid was $19 million in 2022.