Billionaire investor Warren Buffett has not drunk water for 48 years, preferring Cherry Coke instead, according to hedge fund manager Bill Ackman.
Ackman recounted the anecdote during an appearance on the Equity Mates Investing podcast, recalling a dinner with the 96-year-old Berkshire Hathaway chairman.
“I asked him, ‘Do you want still or sparkling?’, and he said, ‘No, thank you. I’ll have a Cherry Coke’,” Ackman said.
When Ackman asked whether Buffett drank water at all, the investor replied: “Bill, I haven’t had water in 48 years.”
Ackman said he had prepared Cherry Coke for his guest in advance, knowing it was Buffett’s preferred beverage. British author Glen Arnold has previously written that Buffett drinks five cans of Coke a day.
Nutrition experts have cautioned against such habits. Aditi Prasad Apte, senior clinical nutritionist at Aster RV Hospital in Bangalore, said replacing water with sugary soft drinks is not a healthy long-term practice.
“Soft drinks contain a large amount of sugar, caffeine and additives, but they do not provide the same benefits as plain water,” she said. “Regular consumption of sugary drinks can increase daily calorie intake without making a person feel full.”
Apte warned that high sugar intake can contribute to weight gain, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and higher triglyceride levels, while also raising the risk of tooth decay, weakened enamel and kidney problems.
She noted that older adults and people with existing health conditions may face greater risks, as the sense of thirst can diminish with age.
