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POPULAR musician, author and businessman Jimmy Buffett passed away in September 2023.

Jimmy Buffett is well known for his hugely successful song Margaritaville - but is he related to one of the world's richest men, Warren Buffet?

Jimmy Buffett was best known for his song Margaritaville which he built into a franchise
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Jimmy Buffett was best known for his song Margaritaville which he built into a franchiseCredit: Alamy

Who was Jimmy Buffett?

Jimmy Buffett was born on Christmas Day in 1946 in Pascagoula, Mississippi.

The talented personality had a hugely successful career for over 50 years.

He was a singer/songwriter, musician, best-selling author and businessman.

He owned two restaurant chains, the Cheeseburger in Paradise which is now closed, and the Margaritaville Cafe restaurant.

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Both restaurant chains were named after his two most popular songs.

His musical career began in Nashville, Tennessee as a country artist, recording his first record in 1970.

He spent much time in the earlier years of his musical career busking and performing in clubs and bar venues.

He released his second record in 1973, swiftly followed by two albums in 1974.

In 1977 he released Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes, featuring his breakthrough song Margaritaville.

Jimmy also wrote three number-one best-selling books, including Tales from Margaritaville and Where is Joe Merchant?

Both titles spent over seven months on The New York Times Best Seller fiction list.

He published a memoir in 1998 called A Pirate Looks at Fifty which also featured on the New York Times Best Seller non-fiction list.

He also co-wrote two children's books with his eldest daughter Savannah Jane Buffett.

Off the back of his immense popularity, Jimmy launched several businesses, usually with a tropical theme.

His best-known business is Margaritaville Cafe. He then licensed Margaritaville Tequila, footwear and foods.

He also launched a record label in 1993 called Margaritaville Records.

In 1969 he married Margie Washichek, but they divorced two years later.

He wed Jane Slagsvol in 1977 and they had two daughters together - radio personality Savannah Jane and filmmaker Sarah Delaney.

The pair also adopted a son, Cameron Marley.

Jimmy Buffet's chart success

JIMMY BUFFET's first top 40 single on the Hot 100 Billboard came in 1974.

Here's more about his chart success:

  • Come Monday - No30 (1974)
  • Margaritaville - No8 (1977)
  • Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes - No37 (1977)
  • Cheeseburger in Paradise - No32 (1978)
  • Fins - No35 (1979)
  • Voices That Care (various artists) - No11 (1991)
  • It's Five O'Clock Somewhere (as featured artist) - No17 (2003)
  • Knee Deep (as featured artist) - No18 (2011)

Margaritaville hit No1 on the Adult Contemporary Chart.

It's Five O'Clock Somewhere, and Knee Deep also featured at No1 on the Hot Country Songs chart.

License To Chill was his only No1 hit on the Billboard 200 in 2004.

The album along with Take The Weather With You (2006), and Life On The Flip Side (2020) reached No1 in the Top Country Albums chart.

When did Jimmy Buffett die?

The talented musician sadly passed away at his home aged 76, in September 2023.

Jimmy had been battling Merkel cell skin cancer for four years, according to a post announcing his death.

He continued to perform while undergoing cancer treatment and last appeared on stage for a surprise 45-minute set in Rhode Island a couple of months before his death.

He was “surrounded by his family, friends, music and dogs,” according to his site.

Who is Warren Buffett?

Warren Buffett is an American business magnate, investor and philanthropist from Omaha, Nebraska.

He is the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway and, after huge investment success, is now the fifth richest person in the world.

His net worth is over $115billion.

In 2008 he was named as the richest person in the world by Forbes with a net worth of around $62billion.

He dropped to second place behind Bill Gates in 2009 after donating billions of dollars to charity.

Was Jimmy Buffett related to Warren Buffett?

Although Jimmy and Warren share the same surname of Buffet, they are not related.

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Many mistake the pair as related in some way due to their unusual surname.

The New York Times reported in 2018 that the pair took a 23andMe DNA test together to find out for sure.

World's richest people

ELON Musk is the world's richest man, according to Forbes' real-time billionaires list. Here's who makes the top 10*:

Elon Musk - $224.2bn

Bernard Arnault and family - $183.8bn

Jeff Bezos - $179.6bn

Larry Ellison - $143.7bn

Mark Zuckerberg - $138.4bn

Warren Buffett - $124.9bn

Larry Page - $124.8bn

Bill Gates - $122.1bn

Sergey Brin - $119.5bn

Steve Ballmer - $118.5bn

* Figures as of January 24, 2024

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