By Sonya Bryskine
Epoch Times Staff
Billionaire investor Warren Buffett, Chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Inc, joins California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (not in picture) in a coversation during the Women's Conference 2008 at the Long Beach Convention Centre in Long Beach, California. (Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images)
Lunch with the billionaire and well-known philanthropist Warren Buffett has attracted a record auction bid of $2.63 million at the 11th annual charity fundraiser.The winning bidder, who wished to remain anonymous, will have a chance to dine with Buffett at New York’s prestigious Smith and Wollensky steakhouse.Buffett earned his title of “legendary investor Warren Buffett” after turning the textile manufacturer Berkshire Hathaway into a billion-dollar enterprise.The annual lunch function has given business entrepreneurs an opportunity to discuss with Buffett topics such as investment strategies, corporate governance, and philanthropy. The winner can also bring nine guests to share the occasion.This year’s auction was 24 percent higher than the previous record, set in 2008 when hedge-fund manager Zhao Danyang of Hong Kong paid $2.11 million.The chance to have lunch with the celebrated billionaire investor drew nine bidders and 77 bids, according to EBay Inc.Buffett, the 79-year-old investor who is chairman and chief executive officer of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., has raised about $8.56 million with the auctions to help the Glide Foundation, which serves meals to the needy. A group led by Courtenay Wolfe of Salida Capital won last year with a bid of $1.68 million.“It’s actually a remarkable calibration of his value,” said Jeff Matthews, author of Pilgrimage to Warren Buffett’s Omaha and founder of hedge fund Ram Partners LP. “It measures what people think his worth to them is,” he continued, reports Bloomberg.According to the 2010 Forbes Magazine review Buffett’s fortune was estimated at $47 billion, making his the third wealthiest person in the world. He runs behind telecommunications investor Carlos Slim and Microsoft Corp. co-founder Bill Gates in the worldwide rankings.Buffett is noted for his adherence to the value investing philosophy and for his personal frugality despite his immense wealth. Buffett is also a notable philanthropist and serves as a member of the board of trustees at Grinnell College.However, Buffett’s philanthropy has recently earned him no less respect. He has vowed to give away 85 percent of his wealth to the Gates Foundation. The Foundation was described as the largest transparently operated private foundation in the world by the Economist and was founded by Bill and Melinda Gates. The primary aims of the foundation are, globally, to enhance healthcare and reduce extreme poverty, and in America, to expand educational opportunities and access to information technology.
File photo of billionaire Warren Buffett. 
Billionaire Warren Buffett, Chief Executive of , auctioned lunch with himself on eBay for US$2.63 million.

Bidding, which started on eBay a few weeks ago, attracted nine bidders, offering huge sums for the opportunity to have a steak lunch with the man said to be a "legendary investor". 

The winning bidder, an anonymous individual, will be parting with $2.63 million for a meal with the world-famed investor and has the opportunity to bring along seven friends for the meal.

This, the latest of Buffett's charity auctions, is providing funds to the , a charity that provides food, health care, housing and job training for 's homeless.

Over the last ten years, Buffett has netted $5.9 million in donations through such auctions.