'It's not taxed at all': Warren Buffett once revealed a key investment most miss, and it holds the key to lasting wealth

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With an estimated net worth of about $141.2 billion, legendary investor Warren Buffett has built a tremendous financial empire — making him the 11th richest person in the world, as of April 1, 2026 (1).

Buffett is also known for sharing his investing wisdom with everyday Americans, prioritizing steady growth like the S&P 500 over decades, but, according to the Oracle of Omaha, there's one thing that everyone can invest in, regardless of income.

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Buffett's nearly foolproof philosophy, which underpins his success, starts with one thing: self-investment. As he explained to shareholders at Berkshire Hathaway's 2022 annual meeting, "Whatever abilities you have can't be taken away from you (2)."

"They can't be inflated away from you," he added. "The best investment by far is anything that develops yourself, and it's not taxed at all."

Now, at 95 years old, Buffett has finally retired from his longtime post as Berkshire's CEO, having announced the decision at the company's annual shareholder meeting in May 2025. Former Vice-Chair Greg Abel took over the top job of CEO on Jan. 1, 2026, while Buffett stepped down as Chair on September 18, 2026 (3). Buffett's son, Howard Buffett, replaced him in the role.

Despite this shake-up, Buffett is confident about Berkshire Hathaway's legacy.

"It has a better chance I think of being here 100 years from now than any company I can think of," Buffett said during an interview early in 2026 with CNBC (4).

In a more recent March 31 Squawk Box appearance, Buffett expressed confidence in Abel's stewardship (4). If anything, Buffet lamented not stepping aside sooner, noting that: "Greg is so good. It was kind of embarrassing how good he is, because he has covered … more ground in a day than I would in a week, even when I was at my peak, let alone my present condition."

Here's how to follow in Buffett's footsteps, even if they've slowed down in recent years — especially when it comes to thinking long term rather than trying to time the market.