An anonymous bidder just dropped $9,000,100 for a private lunch with Warren Buffett, Stephen Curry, and Ayesha Curry, instantly turning a charity auction into a headline-grabbing flex of wealth and access.
Sitting Down Lunch
Then Buffett doubled it.
The investing legend pledged to match the winning bid, pushing the total haul to nearly $18 million — less feel-good charity moment, more high-stakes power play with a philanthropic wrapper.
The auction revived Buffett’s famous charity lunch series, which began in 2000 and raised more than $53 million for San Francisco’s GLIDE Foundation over two decades. Buffett stepped away from the event after a record-setting $19 million bid closed out the auction in 2022, but he reportedly returned this year after personally asking Curry to participate, ESPN reports.
This year’s proceeds will support both GLIDE and the Currys’ Eat.Learn.Play. Foundation, the nonprofit Stephen and Ayesha Curry created to combat childhood hunger, improve literacy, and provide safe places for children to play in Oakland communities.
“We’re overwhelmed with gratitude for this opportunity, which reflects a shared belief that when different generations and institutions come together with purpose, we can create deeper and more lasting impact for the people who need it most,” the Currys said in a statement.
Next season, Curry is set to make $62.6 million with the Golden State Warriors, becoming the first NBA player to earn more than $60 million in a single season. But his influence now stretches well beyond sports through investments, media projects, endorsements, and philanthropy.
Through his company Thirty Ink, Curry oversees partnerships and investments while also expanding into entertainment through Unanimous Media. Earlier this year, one of Curry’s projects earned recognition at the Sundance Film Festival, continuing his push into Hollywood and production.
His financial growth looks even more remarkable considering where his NBA earnings started.
Back in 2012, Curry signed a four-year, $44 million extension while dealing with ankle injuries. The deal later became known as one of the best bargains in league history after Curry transformed the Warriors into a dynasty, won MVP awards, and changed the way modern basketball is played.
“One thing my pops always told me is you never count another man’s money,” Curry said in 2017 while addressing discussions about his salary. “If I’m complaining about $44 million over four years, then I’ve got other issues in my life.”
Since then, Curry has signed contracts worth more than $400 million combined with endorsements and business ventures, adding substantially more to his wealth.
His real estate investments have also grown in value.
A former Alamo, California estate once owned by Curry recently returned to the market for $10.5 million. Curry originally purchased the property in 2016 for $5.8 million before selling it in 2019 for $6.3 million. The home was later sold again in 2022 for $8.3 million.
The nearly 10,000-square-foot property includes a pool house, sauna, putting green, infinity-edge spa, and landscaped grounds lined with redwoods and imported Italian cypress trees. The estate became associated with Curry during the Warriors’ championship run in Oakland before he later relocated closer to San Francisco.
While Curry’s financial rise continues, Buffett remains one of the most influential investors in history.
The Berkshire Hathaway chairman currently has an estimated net worth of about $149 billion. Despite that enormous fortune, Buffett has donated nearly $65 billion throughout his lifetime and pledged to give away more than 99% of his wealth through The Giving Pledge initiative.
His donations have funded organizations focused on education, healthcare, poverty reduction, and social equity, including the Gates Foundation and several charities operated by Buffett’s family members.
The lunch auction ultimately brought together two very different business worlds: Buffett, whose reputation was built on long-term investing, and Curry, whose modern empire now spans sports, media, philanthropy, and branding.
And for one anonymous bidder, that conversation was apparently worth more than $9 million.
