-- Diane Alter - Fourth Estate Cooperative Reporter

New York City, NY, United States (4E) - We all know there is no such thing as a free lunch, but some $3.5 million is a very steep price to pay for a noontime meal.

Yet, an anonymous bidder did just that, shelling out $3,456,789 to dine with investment guru Warren Buffett, CEO and founder of the famed conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway.

According to Glide, the San Francisco Bay anti-poverty organization that benefits from the auction, there were 10 active bidders amid the more than 110 inquires into the auction on eBay.

The auction began last Sunday and closed Friday at 10:30 p.m. ET.

Glide founder, the Rev. Cecil Williams said in a statement."We are shouting, dancing, rejoicing and celebrating. It's quite an experience. We have made history, thanks to Warren Buffett."

Over the last ten years, the Oracle of Omaha has raised more than $11.5 million for the organization, not counting this year's auction.

The 2012 winning bid was $800,000 more than last year's prior record bid of $2,626,411 paid for the pleasure of breaking bread with Buffett.

The 2011 and 2010 auctions were won by Ted Weschler, a former managing partner of Peninsula Capital Advisors.

Buffett hired Weschler and put him on the payroll in September after the two enjoyed a multi-million-dollar meal last summer.

The winner of this year's auction, and seven lucky friends, will join Buffett for lunch at the celebrated stake house Smith & Wollensky in New York.

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