Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

New Recession Villain: Warren Buffett's Cell Phone

Oracle of Omaha missed message that may have saved Lehman Brothers

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 18, 2009 8:24 AM CDT

(Newser) – If Warren Buffett knew how to use his cell phone, the financial world might be in better shape, blogs Karen Tumulty of Time. Just before Lehman Brothers collapsed last year, a Barclays executive attempting to rescue the firm with an assist from Buffett left a message on the Oracle of Omaha's phone. Problem is, Buffett never got the message—until 10 months later, when he noticed the blinking indicator and asked his daughter to figure it out.

"Lehman Brothers might not have gone under, seriously," writes Tumulty. She caught up with Buffett—who had asked the Barclays exec to send a fax, for obvious reasons—and asked him if he would have agreed to the deal. "He pulled the simple little Samsung phone out of his pocket and pondered it for a moment," then suggested he just might have done so. "I don't know," he said.

Warren Buffett in a May file photo.
Warren Buffett in a May file photo.   (AP Photo/Nati Harnik, File)
Warren Buffett in a May file photo.
Warren Buffett in a May file photo.   (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 4 comments
Guest
Oct 22, 2009 6:12 AM CDT
Page 1 Footprints Filmworks—The Presidential Box—December 2025—FF News— This is an E I G H T Page FF News Brief Bulletin so the footprints team suggests that you be nice and relaxed when viewing this bulletin. This is an Exclusive Interview with South Africa’s golden president and Nobel Peace Prize winner Mr. Omar Abdulla. Mr. Omar Abdulla is president of South Africa since 2023 and his serving his second year in office after serving on the 447 member South African government as Minister of Finance. Mr. Omar Abdulla is President of South Africa based on his overwhelming support from the South African community clinching 81 percent of the more than 50 million voters in South Africa. Mr. Omar Abdulla is known as “The Playboy President” earning this title after dating some of the most gorgeous women in the world. Mr. Omar Abdulla is known as the World’s Greatest President according to voters on Today’s Times Magazine. South Africa the country occupies S P A C E that of France, Spain, England and Northern Asia. South Africa is rated the fifth most popular country in the world after the United States, India, China and Brazil. South Africa is known as “The Honeymoon Haven” hosting tourists who choose to escape once they get married. South Africa is rated as one of the most beautiful countries in the world according to voting polls on FF News. South Africa-The country occupies the Southern Tip of Africa and is bounded by South West Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Swaziland and by the Atlantic and Indian Oceans- West and East. South Africa entirely surrounds Lesotho and partially surrounds the F O U R black states of Transkei, Bophuthatswana, Venda and Ciskei. (Before their independence) --Footprints Filmworks Advert-- The Country’s history stretches 250 000 years where President of South Africa Paul Kruger and The Great trek had their tug of war on land and commercial properties. The country has long been plagued by foreigners who choose to escape from their daily chores and choose to relax in South Africa’s warm climate. The Country has long been raising eyebrows in local communities regarding forced links between Footprints allies and ANC Nationalists. The Country is rated as a country of national pride, accelerated growth, ever-growing technology and increasing national interest. As the year is 2025 many local communities are creating havoc as many people choose to have their say about the country as a whole. A local listener on SABC Radio Richie Valens said that South Africa should look at growth internally rather than externally. South Africa which has the first teleport service which allows listeners from anywhere in the world to show their interest in the country can dial 911 and can speak to President of South Africa or whoever’s name they type in the database immediately, via voice prompts. Valens asked Abdulla what he thought about the current Economic Stimulus Plan, currently stating that the...
IndependentThinker
Sep 17, 2009 10:51 PM CDT
Wow blaming all the bad dealings, all the corruption, all the greed that went down on one guy not checking his voice mail? Bullshit. If this one key moment was so monumental why didn't they call back till they got a hold of him? Times needs to fire this idiot.
Yourself
Sep 17, 2009 10:31 PM CDT
i call BS.

More Newser Stories

Lehman Lives on— and It's Getting Bigger

Feds Sue Big Banks Over Mortgages

Debt Crisis Could Make Lehman's Fail Look Lame

Did Bankers Go to Jail for Causing Great Depression?

Feds Ready to Prosecute in Financial Meltdown


NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne