Warren Buffett has not touched water in about 50 years, Bill Ackman recalls

Warren Buffett, 96, once told hedge fund manager Bill Ackman that he had not had a glass of water in five decades, Business Insider Africa reports. Ackman recounted the story on an episode of the Equity Mates Investing podcast that aired this week.

Ackman said Buffett came over for dinner at his home “years ago” and he had stocked Buffett’s favourite drink, Cherry Coke. When Ackman offered still or sparkling water, Buffett politely declined, opting for soda. “But I said, you know, ‘Don’t you drink water?’” Ackman recalled. “And he said, ‘Bill, I haven’t had water in 48 years.’”

Buffett, who retired as Berkshire Hathaway’s CEO after 60 years last December and as chairman this September, is widely known for drinking five cans of Coke daily. He quipped in 2015 that he was “one-quarter Coca-Cola,” as it accounted for 25% of his daily calories. Ackman did not immediately respond to the outlet’s request for more detail about Buffett’s hydration habits.