For the 18th consecutive year, billionaire investor Warren Buffet auctioned off a lunch date with himself to benefit the Glide Foundation, a San Francisco–based charity that supports the homeless.
Concluding a five-day auction, an anonymous bidder pledged $2.68 million for the opportunity to bring seven friends for a meal with the 86-year-old businessman at Manhattan's Smith & Wollensky steakhouse. According to eBay, this year's auction received at total of 41 offers, and the final bid came in just seconds before the auction's close.
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Buffett was introduced to Glide and its mission through his first wife, Susan, who volunteered for the organization. Now, since 2000, he has helped to raise more than $26 million for its efforts.
"We believe in building bridges, not walls," said Glide co-founder Janice Mirikitani. "Warren Buffett and the generous bidders enable us to provide a holistic array of high quality services that meet critical needs, improve lives and elevate the human spirit."
Last year, the winning bid reached $3.46 million, tying the previous 2012 record.
Former fund manager Ted Weschler, who won two consecutive auctions totally $5.3 million in 2010 and 2011, is the only auction winner who Buffett went on to hire.
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