Benjamin Graham was an American economist

Economist

An economist is a professional in the social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy...

 and professional investor. Graham is considered the first proponent of value investing

Value investing

Value investing is an investment paradigm that derives from the ideas on investment and speculation that Ben Graham and David Dodd began teaching at Columbia Business School in 1928 and subsequently developed in their 1934 text Security Analysis...

, an investment approach he began teaching at Columbia Business School

Columbia Business School

Columbia Business School is the business school of Columbia University in Manhattan, New York City. It was established in 1916 to provide business training and professional preparation for undergraduate and graduate Columbia University students...

 in 1928 and subsequently refined with David Dodd

David Dodd

David LeFevre Dodd was an American educator, financial analyst, author, economist, professional investor, and in his student years, a of, and as a postgraduate, close colleague of Benjamin Graham at Columbia Business School.The Wall Street Crash of 1929 almost wiped out Graham, who had started...

 through various editions of their famous book Security Analysis. Graham's disciples include Warren Buffett

Warren Buffett

Warren Edward Buffett is an American business magnate, investor, and philanthropist. He is widely regarded as one of the most successful investors in the world. Often introduced as "legendary investor, Warren Buffett", he is the primary shareholder, chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. He is...

, William J. Ruane

William J. Ruane

William J. Ruane was a Wall Street investment manager and philanthropist....

, Irving Kahn

Irving Kahn

Irving Kahn is an American value investor and money manager and the oldest living investment professional. He was an early disciple of Benjamin Graham, the creator of the value investing methodology. Kahn began his career in 1928 and continues to work to this day at the age of...

, Walter J. Schloss and others. Buffett, who credits Graham as grounding him with a sound intellectual investment framework, described him as the second most influential person in his life after his own father.