why does Buffett hate MBAs so much?

Buffett speaks at a lot of business schools and has a Columbia MBA. Yet in his shareholder meetings Buffett and Munger criticize MBAs and b-schools. 

To be clear, the MBA is just a degree. There's no magic to the so-called "Magic 7" (awful, arrogant name). However, if we put aside the arrogance, what's the problem with the MBA? 

If you don't count on b-schools to be the be-all end-all of financial education, why all the hate for MBAs? Would Buffett recommend instead that students pursue an engineering or MSc Finance?


 

2 Comments
 

In my MBA (top 30 think like W&M, Rochester, Wisconsin) right now which I elected to do straight out of a NESCAC undergrad with an athletic scholarship helping me pay. I can safely say the degree doesn’t make the person be successful. People who are successful are just naturally gifted with that DAWG in them. On top of that these MBA/Bschool type of people like to overcomplicate everything when a lot of what I’ve learned isnt. Not trashing the degree, it is worth while just the people who take it too far and act like it is some magic formula for being better than others are the reason it is looked down upon.

 

Impedit consequatur excepturi hic numquam similique dolorem. Fuga soluta perspiciatis autem hic omnis. Sed iure exercitationem quos corrupti porro qui sit.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (66) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”