America’s Road To Wealth - Vol 2 Chapter 481
Chapter 481 Buffett’s most successful investment in his life
May 1, 2002.
International Labour Day.
There are many countries in the world that celebrate this festival and have a holiday for it.
However, the birthplace of this festival, the most powerful country in the world, has never celebrated this festival itself.
The United States has its own Labor Day.
Every year on the first Monday of September, we have a day off to show respect for laborers.
On this day, people all over the United States generally hold various celebrations such as parades and rallies.
In some states, after the parade, people will hold picnics, eating, drinking, singing and dancing lively.
At night, there will be fireworks in some places.
It looks grand, as if they take this festival seriously.
It seems to take labor very seriously.
But in fact, in the United States, most festivals are so lively.
Americans seem to love excitement by nature. If there is no festival, they will create festivals, just to make noise and entertain.
That’s exactly the case, the leaders of the United States are like actors, occasionally appearing on various influential American variety shows.
Whoever calls the American character is like this, they love this one.
On this day, Dow Jones, which created the Dow Jones Index.
Its “Wall Street Journal” published a striking photo in the headline report of its second edition.
The “Wall Street Journal” has been very stubborn in the past 100 years. Its newspapers have always insisted on black and white.
Even the pictures are black and white, no color.
It persisted until April of this year, that is, last month.
The “Wall Street Journal” has just been officially revised, with a new color layout to face its many customers.
Nowadays, the photo of Abel published in the report is naturally also in color.
The content of this photo is Abel Smith, who is well-known in the United States, and no American does not know him. He is sitting in a beautiful red sports car, driving seriously with the windows open.
Abel Smith is reported every day in the United States.
Compared with the past, there are many, many photos about him on the street, or the pictures on the news.
There are media statistics, 365 days a year. Every day, Abel Smith will appear in at least 17 major American media reports.
At the peak, 535 medium-sized and above American media reported on him a day.
There are more unknown tabloids.
Most of these reports have pictures.
From this point of view, at first glance, this picture does not seem to be a big deal.
Just a picture of Abel Smith driving.
However, this report by the “Wall Street Journal” and this picture still caused a huge heated discussion in the United States.
Reason being, this is a picture of Abel Smith, driving a car for the first time!
What he drives is a sports car that only rich people, celebrities, and celebrities with flamboyant personalities would choose.
This is rare, and it can even be said to be unique.
Because of Abel Smith, he appeared in the picture related to the vehicle.
The vehicles used as his background are either Lincolns, Cadillacs, or Ford pickups… Cadillacs are the most common.
Since he became famous and became the darling of the media.
No one ever saw him ride in any non-American car.
If someone is careful to count, they will find that most of the top American tycoons from WASP have the same driving style as Abel, all American cars.
Are American cars of better quality?
No, the tycoons are all creating a kind of personality, a kind of patriotic personality.
So pictures of Abe riding, even driving, sports cars feel fresh to more than just the average American.
Many people who know him well and know this American elite who is very afraid of death and attaches great importance to their own safety can’t help being curious about this picture.
That Abe Smith, who is very old-fashioned in many aspects, is also starting to show off?
Is this a change in his personality?
A lot of people think this way, and it’s important.
Because it is something that many people, companies, and institutions have been studying to figure out Abel’s character and grasp his weakness.
That night, this picture appeared on many talk shows and review programs.
For example, at the beginning of this year, the popular “Ellen Show” just launched on AMC TV station directly made this topic one of the core contents of the program that night.
The Ellen Show, also known as The Ellen DeGeneres Show, is hosted by Ellen DeGeneres.
She is a dazzling newcomer in the American media industry in recent years.
She was about to negotiate with CBS TV station to start a talk show under the other party’s banner.
AMC TV station won the love, and won the contract with Ellen DeGeneres on better terms.
Since then, the AMC version of “The Ellen Show” has appeared, and it is now a popular talk show on AMC TV in the United States.
The host Ellen DeGeneres, popular for his relaxed and humorous hosting style, premiered on January 9, 2002.
The show was a huge success combining anecdotes, celebrities, musical guests and human stories.
Among the many talk shows in the United States, in terms of ratings, it is currently only inferior to “Oprah’s Talk Show”, ranking only second in talk shows.
The “Ellen Show” on the night of May 1st.
The host Ellen DeGeneres invited the head of F1, the famous British rich man Bernie Ecclestone to participate.
During the program interview, the two chatted and laughed happily at the beginning, mainly talking about the topic of F1.
Talk about F1’s emphasis on the United States, and some content to please the Americans.
The two chatted, and they turned the topic to this report and photos from the “Wall Street Journal”.
“Oh, America’s first taxpayer drives a sports car, what a rare sight.”
Allen said immediately at the time.
Bernie Ecclestone stood in the perspective of a professional, claiming that the sports car driven by Abe Smith had never appeared in the industry.
“This is definitely not an existing sports car. It will not be a limited edition of Ferrari or Lamborghini. Its style is very American. I think it may be a new sports car, or a new American sports car?”
Bernie Ecclestone speaks volumes.
Allen immediately praised:
“Then what kind of sports car is it that can make Abel Smith, who has never driven a car himself, unable to drive it? I have received news that our boss is driving this sports car and is very excited Palo Alto, California has been open for two days! Oh, this is a very rare thing.”
The short discussion between the two suddenly attracted the attention of many ordinary Americans.
From “Abe Smith drove a car for the first time”, to “What exactly is Abe Smith driving?”
Originally, the direction of public opinion throughout the day today, and the not-so-smart guiding method of “The Ellen Show”.
Many media have realized that this may be Abel Smith’s hype again.
Those media groups that compete with Smith Media, if they can, are less willing to help Abel Smith hype.
In the words of the Chinese people, this is helping the evildoers.
The richer Abe is, the stronger Smith Media will be. That oppresses them even stronger, and they are unwilling.
Yet their market analysts agree.
In the near future, reporting related types of content will increase their company’s ratings or sales at least steadily by more than 20%.
Look at the face of the fragrant green notes.
Murdoch and Redstone can only get News Corporation and CBS Group to participate in relevant reports.
Under a large number of reports, in just one day.
News about Palo Alto’s Tesla Inc. and its one-of-a-kind tech supercar.
It was very crowded, officially in front of the eyes of all Americans.
The next day, at night.
The news has developed to this point, and Americans who have read the relevant news already know about it.
The sports car that can make Abel so dear is a super environmentally friendly car that doesn’t use gasoline.
It is unique, the first in the world!
Made in the USA, that’s important.
This evening.
1 San Mateo Drive, Corona del Mar, Santa Barbara, CA.
“Hey…Warren, you already knew that I have invested in this. Don’t you always have a dislike for this kind of high technology? So I didn’t inform you, is it normal?”
In the living room, Abel was holding a satellite phone, talking with the American stock **** on the other end of the phone with a slight smile.
Beside her sat Paris with a big belly.
On another sofa chair next to it.
Still sitting still is actually very busy, but licking his face just refuses to leave, refuses to go back to Ted Lerner in New York.
Ted said that his daughter had just given birth.
As a father, how could he only stay for two days before leaving?
At least he has to wait for his daughter to recover before he can leave with peace of mind.
At this, his daughter Ikana could only roll her eyes.
She knew that if her man wasn’t here now, her father would disappear immediately.
What really made her father stay was not his love for his daughter.
Just like now, I know that the person who is on the phone with Abel is the “Oracle of Omaha” Buffett.
The old man had already pricked up his ears.
He was reading the newspaper on the surface, but in fact, he was fully engaged in the call between Abel and Buffett.
In Ted’s view, Abel and Buffett are the two most powerful and best investors in the United States.
If the conversation between these two people can reveal a little bit about the stocks they are optimistic about.
Nat Ted felt that as long as he bought it without a brain, he would definitely make a lot of money.
Since Abel does not avoid suspicion, Ted certainly will not give up this good opportunity.
“Actually, I’m still not optimistic about this industry. But you know, in terms of investment, I trust you unconditionally.”
The quality of the satellite phone is very good, and both Ted and Paris in the living room are extremely quiet.
Buffett’s voice can be heard clearly as long as he concentrates a little.
“Since you’re in this business, you’ve invested so much. I figured it must be good. How about, honey, how about letting me in?”
Hearing what Buffett said, Abel smiled silently.
He thought, huh… Sure enough, it attracted a big shark that smelled fishy.
Yes, as many people guessed.
The pictures and news published by the “Wall Street Journal” are a hype initiated by Abel.
The hype is Tesla in Palo Alto.
The time period when Abel changed from a Chinese to an American is the second half of 2022.
At that time, it was the time when the new energy vehicles of the United States and China swept the world.
Whether it is Si Dezi or Xiaocai, these two traditional fuel vehicle powerhouses have been impacted and only have the power to parry.
So even without talent, Abel knew that the new energy track was right.
It will bring a new revolution to the advanced industrial system of the automobile industry.
He intends to enter the auto industry, but the major auto groups in the United States are all owned by their owners.
Abel put his mind on the track of new energy vehicles.
This is how two years ago, Tesla appeared ahead of schedule.
After two years of preparation, the first Tesla car finally appeared.
Abel, who wanted to be the man who created the trend, finally officially started his first step.
That is to use his own strong influence to draw the attention of the outside world to electric vehicles.
Learn from Musk in parallel time and space, and try to stir up the track of new energy vehicles as much as possible.
Compared to Musk, who was not well-known at that time, Abel, who is the richest man in the world and the first generation of network traffic king in the United States and even the world, can play a great role in this regard.
In addition to his increasingly stable “investment god” aura, and his hidden identity as a Texas consortium boss.
As soon as Tesla was announced, it even immediately attracted the attention of people like Buffett.
You must know that this is Buffett. This hometown never invests in areas he is not familiar with.
He has never paid attention to short-term interests, and is a character who would rather go empty than take risks.
It is definitely not the credit of Tesla, or new energy vehicles, to find Abel so quickly.
This is Abel’s credit, because Buffett believes in Abel.
Because the Oracle of Omaha obviously wants to bond with Abel in every way.
Rather than saying that Buffett wants to invest in the fields that Abel is optimistic about, it is better to say that Buffett is actually still investing in Abel.
Abel is naturally happy with Buffett’s approach.
Because first of all, the new energy vehicle track itself is not an industry that can be promoted by individuals or just a consortium.
It can really succeed later, and it can hope to replace traditional fuel vehicles.
More than 95% of the credit goes to the United States and China.
It needs to be promoted by the most powerful country in the world, or even two together, in order to have a future.
In this regard, Abel, who has already formed an industry layout, of course hopes that the more people will enter the market, the better.
The more people like himself and Buffett enter the arena, the stronger the federal government’s drive to promote the track of new energy vehicles will be.
As for Huaxia, as long as they want to upgrade their industries.
Then they will definitely assist the United States, and everyone will work together to promote this automobile revolution.
Because China itself is also one of the countries with the most lithium mines in the world.
In contrast, the United States is even a lithium-poor country.
Lithium mines are the core of new energy vehicles.
If you can master the core, at least you won’t be manipulated by others. It can also promote national energy security, and at the same time, there is great hope for overtaking on corners and an industrial upgrade in the automotive industry.
As long as Huaxia is not stupid, it will end sooner or later.
So now, Buffett is willing to join in.
Abel is of course happy.
After two years of deployment, 1/3 of the world’s discovered lithium mines have been obtained.
As long as this outlet can be created.
Then it doesn’t matter if Abel has to give up all Tesla.
In the parallel time and space, why is there only one Tesla in the United States in future generations, but they still spare no effort to promote the track of new energy vehicles?
The United States itself is still a lithium-poor country.
Without it, because the world’s largest lithium producing areas are in South America, in the back garden of the United States.
Many American mining giants are the biggest supporters behind Tesla.
It can be said that this is a rare consensus reached by the United States and China.
Facing Buffett’s temptation, Abel did not hesitate.
“Are you really interested? Warren, maybe this is another dot-com bubble, Nasdaq crisis.”
He smiled and held the satellite phone, speaking to the Oracle of Omaha.
“Of course interested. But like I said, I’m just going to believe in you until you get a hard failure.”
“Hahaha—then I have to say, you never want to see this kind of thing in your life.”
“Let’s do this.” Abel began to quote directly: “As of now, I have invested about 300 million U.S. dollars in Tesla Motors. 10%, 2 billion U.S. dollars.”
There is no response from Buffett yet.
Ted Lerner, who was listening attentively here, was taken aback.
For a company with an investment of only 300 million, in the first round of financing, the quotation will be 2 billion US dollars as soon as 10% comes up.
That is to say, Abel invested only 300 million U.S. dollars in a company. After two years of development, the market value is now 20 billion U.S. dollars!
This is a money grab! Ted Lerner thought to himself that Buffett would definitely not agree.
The old man’s prudence in investment is well-known all over the world.
People don’t play venture capital, angel investment.
Buffett’s investments have always been mature companies in mature fields.
However, to Ted Lerner’s surprise, Buffett actually agreed directly.
“Okay, I agree. 10%, $2 billion. But I have a premise that the first round of financing cannot exceed 30%. And it includes my 10%.”
On the satellite phone, Buffett said this.
This made Ted Lerner’s eyes widen.
Really let Abel succeed in stealing money? !
With an investment of 300 million yuan, it will become a market value of 20 billion yuan in two years!
The key is that people like Buffett still recognize it, and Ted Lerner was extremely shocked.
In the United States, want to make it possible for investors to support a company.
Many times, all that is needed is a name.
In the past, Warren Buffett was such a name for Wall Street.
Looking at Abel who was holding a satellite phone and smiling, Ikana’s father felt a little emotional.
Well, now there is a younger, more gold-rich Abe Smith.
“It’s not a big problem. I can promise you this condition, trust me, Warren. This will be your second most successful investment.”
Abel said with a smile.
Ted wanted to know what was Buffett’s first successful investment.
Was it in the 1970s that the stock **** invested in American Express for the first time and tripled his income in half a year?
Or Buffett’s $108 million investment in federally-backed mortgage insurance giant Freddie Mac in 1988 at a split-adjusted $4 per share, and then arbitrage on an outrageous $6.5 billion gain two years earlier?
Fortunately, it seems that Buffett is also curious about this question, and the stock **** smiled and asked:
“Since it is the second, which one do you think was my first successful investment?”
“Need to say?” Ted saw Abel a little “arrogant” authentic:
“Of course it is your investment in Smith Capital. That will be the most successful investment in your life.”
Abel’s somewhat “arrogant” answer caused Buffett over there and Ted here to fall into a brief silence.
A few seconds later, Ted heard a very hearty laugh from the Oracle of Omaha on the satellite phone.
“Hahaha…you are absolutely right!”
Only listening to the satellite phone, Buffett said categorically: “It was indeed the most successful investment in my life. I am very sure of this now.”
“That’s right, and you now have your second most successful investment.”
Abel said with a smile.
(end of this chapter)