1996: Does Buffett and Berkshire's publicity create a personal safety risk?
AUDIENCE MEMBER: My concern — oh, my name is Jan Anglin (PH). I’m from Southern Indiana. And this is my first Berkshire meeting.
WARREN BUFFETT: Good.
AUDIENCE MEMBER: I did have a concern about the B shares that’s less business and more — I guess it would be concerned with your and Mr. Munger’s personal safety.
I often see your picture in the newspaper. And I certainly don’t mind seeing it on financial magazines, but now, it’s kind of, like, proliferating. I don’t like the idea that you are so visible. (Laughter)
That bothers me. It’s — I mean, do you understand what I’m saying?
WARREN BUFFETT: No. I understand exactly.
AUDIENCE MEMBER: This isn’t —
WARREN BUFFETT: It’s occurred to me. (Laughter)
I appreciate that, and I — but the answer is there’s no other way, I mean, if —
AUDIENCE MEMBER: OK.
WARREN BUFFETT: — over time
AUDIENCE MEMBER: But can —
WARREN BUFFETT: — in terms of what happens. And —
AUDIENCE MEMBER: So —
WARREN BUFFETT: — as it grows, you get more visible, basically.
AUDIENCE MEMBER: Oh, I know. But along with the B shares and things, can you, kind of, like, be quotable but less available for photos? (Laughter)
WARREN BUFFETT: Well, I normally am. I — if you’ve noticed, in terms of interviews or anything of the sort, I do not do them. I’ve been invited to go on all of the news shows. And I, basically, don’t do it.
Frankly, with the shareholders, I feel differently about this group. I’m delighted to see everybody come here. And I enjoy getting together with the shareholders. (Applause)
I think the real protection is, if we’d done something that had caused the stock to balloon way up and then come way down, I might have had to be a little more careful. (Laughter)
CHARLIE MUNGER: I think she has a very good idea. Having seen that acting — (Laughter)
I think hereafter, maybe you should be the voice of Mickey Mouse. (Laughter)
WARREN BUFFETT: I do appreciate the sentiment out of everybody. And there is a — it is unavoidable, to a fair degree. Although, Charlie may have thought I wasn’t pushed into those acting jobs.