2008: Why is Berkshire ranked as a "troublesome advertiser"?

AUDIENCE MEMBER: Good morning, Mr. Chairman and Charlie. I’m Father Val Peter.

For 25 years I was lucky to be head of Boys Town. Expanded across the whole country. Warren was very kind to me, very helpful, over long periods of time.

What I represent today is Parents Television Council, where 1.2 million folks across the country, and our concern is to help keep toxicity off television programs — excessive violence, et cetera.

And I was very surprised, being on a parents television council board, when I read a report — I hope it’s not true, but it might be — that says that of the best and most troublesome advertisers, Berkshire Hathaway, is near the bottom at 444 out of 452. I hope that’s not true.

But my point is this: when I was head of Boys Town and somebody said something like that, I’d say, “Go find out. Correct it.” My question is would you be kind enough to say, “Go find out,” if it’s necessary, “Correct it.” Thank you.

WARREN BUFFETT: Yeah. I would say this: I don’t know where the rankings come from. I mean, I see the — certainly by far our biggest advertiser would be GEICO.

We spend over $700 million a year on advertising. I see their ads all over the place, and, you know, I don’t regard them as offensive or inducing antisocial behavior or anything like that.

But I would be glad for you to contact Tony Nicely because I can’t think of any other company at Berkshire that does, remotely, the amount of advertising. And Tony is an easy fellow — he’s here now, actually, but you could write him at GEICO or you could find him at the GEICO booth, probably, later in the day and just talk to him about that. I’d be glad to have you do that, Father Peter.