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# The NCAA Bracket Contest That Just Paid Out $1 Million: What You Need to Know
If there’s one thing that unites sports fans across the United States, it’s the exhilarating chaos of March Madness. This year, that buzz was palpable not just among avid basketball enthusiasts, but within the walls of Berkshire Hathaway, where an employee claimed an unprecedented $1 million grand prize in the company’s internal NCAA bracket contest. So, what exactly happened, and why should you be tuning into similar events – especially when they can tie into financial markets and investment opportunities? Let’s break down the details.
### The Moment of Glory
For the first time in nearly a decade, an employee from FlightSafety International, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, successfully picked 31 out of 32 games correctly in the first round of the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. This unprecedented accuracy not only secured them the coveted $1 million prize but also made headlines across the financial and sports world alike.
What makes this achievement so significant is the history of this contest. Warren Buffett, the 94-year-old CEO of Berkshire Hathaway and a loyal basketball fan, initially promised the $1 million in 2016 to anyone who could perfectly predict the Sweet 16. Over the years, as the prize remained elusive, Buffett adjusted the rules—relaxing them in 2024 to make the contest more approachable, yet still, no one managed to claim the jackpot.
This year, Buffett finally tweaked the parameters to allow participants to win by simply selecting at least 30 out of 32 correct picks in the first round, a strategy that paid off remarkably.
### A Historic Win
What followed was a bracket showdown of epic proportions. Twelve Berkshire Hathaway employees managed to choose 31 out of the 32 first-round games correctly! The winner, who had correctly guessed nearly every game leading to their loss, not only walked away with the $1 million but also saw their colleague’s fortunes rise, as each of the other 11 finalists received $100,000 for their impressive predictions.
### The Financial Tie-In
In the realm of finance, contests like these are more than just games; they serve as engaging case studies in probability, risk analysis, and even behavioral finance. The strategic thinking employed by participants can offer valuable lessons in risk assessment and investment decision-making.
At Extreme Investor Network, we’re all about deriving insights that influence financial literacy and investment strategies. Analyzing such contests can provide a unique perspective on the unpredictability of markets—similar to predicting NCAA outcomes, investing requires a blend of knowledge, intuition, and sometimes a bit of luck!
### Join the Conversation
So, what can you take away from this exciting turn of events? Whether you’re a seasoned investor or a novice looking to understand the nuances of financial decisions, there’s much to learn from the analytics behind decisions made in high-stakes situations.
At Extreme Investor Network, we delve deeper into these fascinating intersections of sport and finance, offering insights that empower our community to make informed investment choices. Stay tuned to our blog for more engaging articles, expert analyses, and unique insights that you won’t find anywhere else.
With every tournament season, we won’t just be tracking the games; we’ll be highlighting the invaluable lessons they hold for the savvy investor.
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