2002: Has Buffett looked into cryonic suspension?

AUDIENCE MEMBER: Mr. Buffett, my name is Luke Nosek from Palo Alto in California.

The first thing I’d like is just to thank you for saving my shirt from the internet stocks for the last few years.

And, actually, it’s not quite true. I lost my shirt but you did save my underpants. I bought the stock in late 2000.

And, it’s actually not just been about the stock. It’s about — been about — learning from you and your investment philosophy and your character.

It’s been very inspiring at the beginning of my professional life to have a mentor like that.

And I would love to — (Applause)

I think it’s been very inspiring for all of us for, I guess, it’s been almost 50 years of your investment professional life that’s been continuing to go over the top.

I’d love that — for that — to continue for a long time. I’d love to see the next 50 years.

And, I don’t know if that’s possible, given current medical technology, but I have some friends in biotech who have been involved in companies that do something called cryonic suspension.

And I’m curious if you’ve heard of it. It’s the process of — or looked into it — the process of freezing people as they’re dying, and —

WARREN BUFFETT: Just don’t do it too early with me. (Laughter)

AUDIENCE MEMBER: It’s, actually, legally, after pass away.

But even if the risks are — even if the chances of it working are very small and the discount rate is huge over a long period of time, I wonder if you’d looked into it?

What — if you would consider or think about that possibility?

And again, thank you for your service and all the lessons for the last 50 years (inaudible)?

WARREN BUFFETT: Well, I appreciate the suggestion and there probably isn’t much downside to it. (Laughter)

CHARLIE MUNGER: It takes a lot of electricity to keep you frozen for all eternity. (Laughter)

WARREN BUFFETT: That’s all right. We get our electricity wholesale at MidAmerican. (Laughter)

We’re for anything that extends our productive years.

I must say, at 71, I can’t recall ever having any more fun than I’m having now. And I think Charlie seems to be in pretty good spirits too, so it —

We are lucky to be in the business we’re in. I mean, just imagine, you know, if we’d been in — been halfway athletic, or anything like that, where you’re, you know, you — essentially you’re limited by age.

But, there’s really no — there are no problems in this business. I mean, as long as I can kind of lift the phone up (laughs) and hear Craig on the other end, or if I can’t hear him, I get him to tell to Charlie and he can relay it on to me.

It’s a very easy business to conduct throughout your life. And we’re fortunate that way.