Astrid Menks chooses to live a simple life and keep a low profile despite being married to one of the world’s wealthiest men. Her union with billionaire Warren Buffet is exceptional and has garnered her fame. Menks was born to Latvian parents and spent a significant portion of her life in her home country before moving to pursue the American dream, ultimately becoming one of the most popular women in the world.
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Who Is Astrid Menks?
Astrid Menks is the wife of billionaire investor Warren Buffett. The couple married in 2006, after living together for several years. Menks was previously a waitress at a restaurant owned by one of Buffett’s friends, and the two met when Buffett dined at the establishment. Despite being married to one of the wealthiest people in the world, Menks has maintained a low profile and stays out of the public eye.
Astrid Menks Summary Profile
| Nationality | American |
| Year of birth | 1946 |
| Age | 74 |
| Famous for | Wife to Warren Buffet |
| Country of birth | Latvia |
| Hair Color | Married |
| Hair color | Blonde |
Astrid Menks Biography
Astrid Menks is the wife of billionaire business magnate Warren Buffett. She is a philanthropist and former cocktail waitress of Latvian-American origin. Menks spent much of her early life in Latvia before moving to the United States to pursue the American dream. In the 1970s, she worked as a waitress at a cocktail bar, where she first met Buffett. Interestingly, Buffett’s first wife, Susan Thompson, had previously resumed her career as a nightclub singer at the same bar.
When Thompson moved to San Francisco to further her career, she entrusted the care of her husband to the girls at the club, and Menks emerged as the most consistent among them. She would bring him soup, and within a year, she moved in with him. Over the subsequent years, Buffett, Thompson, and Menks shared a complex relationship.
Although he never divorced Thompson, he also had a relationship with Menks. As Buffett became one of the richest men in the world, Thompson took over the reins of his charitable foundation, while Menks took care of him at home. In 2004, Thompson passed away, and two years later, Menks and Buffett married after spending nearly three decades together.
Astrid Menks Was Born in Latvia
Initially, the family resided on a farm in Wordell, Nebraska, but they later moved to Omaha due to lacking basic amenities such as running water and electricity. Menks enrolled at the University of Nebraska but had to drop out due to financial difficulties. To supplement her income, she worked as a manager at a women’s clothing store before becoming a cocktail waitress at a French Café in Omaha. It was during this time, in the mid-1970s, that she met Buffett, despite their age difference. The couple married in 2006 when they were both in their 60s and 40s.
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Astrid And Warren Buffet Love Story
During the 1970s, Warren Buffett was rapidly rising as a multi-millionaire investor with a Midas touch. However, there were some tensions between him and his then-wife, Susan Thompson, over his success, which she found overbearing. Thompson returned to her former career as a nightclub singer and began working at the same cocktail bar as Menks.
In 1977, after nearly 25 years of marriage, Thompson decided to move to San Francisco to pursue her career. Before leaving Omaha, she asked the girls at the bar to take care of her husband, knowing that he yearned for companionship. Among them, Menks quickly grew close to him with her caring attitude and homemade soup. Within a year, she began living with him at his white stucco house in Omaha. Despite this, Buffett never divorced Thompson, and they continued to see each other, collaborating on various projects.
Menks knew that Buffett wasn’t interested in remarriage and was at peace with that decision. The three of them had a loving, albeit unconventional, relationship. They would attend events together, often holding hands, and even sign Christmas cards as “Warren, Susie, and Astrid.” While Thompson managed Buffett’s charitable foundation, Menks provided him with a comfortable home.
Marriage
Following Thompson’s death in 2004, Buffett and Menks got married two years later in a quiet ceremony held at his house. All of Buffett’s children with Thompson, including Susan, Howard, and Peter, hold Menks in high regard, which speaks volumes about their relationship with her.
Menks is also actively involved in charitable works and contributes to the local zoo. Despite being married to one of the wealthiest men in the world, she maintains her frugal lifestyle and can often be seen shopping in thrift shops rather than luxury stores and boutiques.
