A weeklong online auction has ended with a winning bid of $9,000,100 for a private charity lunch with billionaire investor Warren Buffett, NBA star Stephen Curry, and entrepreneur Ayesha Curry.
The auction, hosted on eBay, concluded on Thursday, drawing global attention from philanthropists and high-net-worth bidders.
The identity of the winner has not been disclosed.
The exclusive lunch is scheduled for June 24 in Omaha, Nebraska, where Buffett’s conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway is headquartered.
The winner will attend with up to seven guests for the private meeting.
Massive Boost for Two Nonprofits
Proceeds from the auction will be split between two charitable organisations: the Glide Foundation and Eat. Learn. Play., the latter co-founded by Stephen and Ayesha Curry.
In a major philanthropic boost, Buffett is expected to personally match the winning bid for each organisation.
This means the total donation generated from the auction could reach approximately $27 million.
The Glide Foundation, based in San Francisco’s Tenderloin district, supports individuals facing poverty, homelessness, and substance abuse.
Buffett has maintained a long-standing relationship with the organisation, contributing to 21 previous charity lunch auctions held between 2000 and 2022, which raised more than $53 million in total.
Eat. Learn. Play. focuses on improving children’s wellbeing through nutrition, literacy development, and access to physical activity programs.
The foundation has become a major vehicle for youth-focused philanthropy in the United States.
Buffett’s Legacy of Giving
Now 95, Buffett has built a reputation not only as one of the world’s most successful investors but also as one of its most committed philanthropists.
According to public estimates, he plans to donate the vast majority of his remaining fortune—valued at about $143.5 billion—through a charitable trust overseen by his children.
The recent auction continues a tradition that has seen charity lunch bids grow significantly over the years.
The 2022 edition raised $19 million, previously the highest amount ever recorded for a charity auction on eBay.
Buffett’s late first wife, Susan Buffett, played a key role in introducing him to the Glide Foundation after volunteering there before her death in 2004.
Celebrity Influence in Philanthropy
The involvement of Curry, a four-time NBA champion and two-time MVP, alongside his wife Ayesha, has helped elevate the visibility of Eat. Learn.
Play., especially in initiatives targeting underserved communities.
The auction highlights the increasing role of celebrity-driven philanthropy in attracting large-scale donations, combining global star power with long-term social impact.
With millions already pledged and further matching contributions expected, this year’s charity lunch is set to become one of the most significant fundraising events in recent memory.
