Financial investment prescriptions have long held the attention of readers. In fact, even with a large number of investment dos and donts and `investment checklists, successful investment is still as elusive as ever. In our quest for guidance for successful investments, we are only gathering guidelines but doing very little to reflect on each of them. This article is an effort towards a careful reflection of financial investment basics. It seeks to look into the investment thoughts, actions and strategies of two of the richest billionaire CEOsWarren Buffet and Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Alsaudwho made it big through financial investments.

Warren Buffett (1930- ) of Omaha, United States, who is one of the richest CEOs in the world, is more popular as a wealthy investor. Known as the `Oracle of Omaha' for his impeccable investment decisions, Buffett has provided investors a return of more than 25% for more than three decades through his company Berkshire Hathaway. However, his increasing success and wealth has not brought a change in his lifestyle that seems to have been stagnant since the last 50 years. Buffett feels that his fortune should also be shared with the less privileged through Buffett Foundation. The surety and confidence of Buffett can be seen in his own words, "I always knew I was going to be rich. I don't think I ever doubted it for a minute."

Armed with a Masters in Economics from Columbia University and the formidable support of his mentor Prof. Benjamin Graham, Buffett leveraged on his inherent skills and acquired knowledge as an investment and securities at Graham-Newman Corporation. He worked his way up to establish his own partnership company, Buffet Partnership Ltd., in 1956. After making a turnaround in a textile manufacturing firm, Berkshire Hathaway in 1970, Buffett slowly dissolved his partnership company and raised his personal equity in Berkshire Hathaway to about 38%. He was successful due to the fact that the investment portfolio made at Berkshire Hathaway gave a consistent return, turning his millions into billions. His major investments include Coca-Cola, Moody's, Gillette, American Express, Washington Post Co., and more than thirty performing companies, signifying a diversified spread in investments. Although, a diversified portfolio suggests a reduction in risk, Buffett disagrees with the proposition of deliberate diversification in financial investments and claims, "Diversification is a protection against ignorance. It makes very little sense for those who know what they're doing."

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