It’s the jaded act of almost every Australian fund manager that they live the most ordinary lives. This is partly as (false) assurance to clients they’re not getting too rich on fees and partly more mimicry of stock picking god Warren Buffett, worth $US116 billion ($162 billion) and still living in the house he bought 60 years ago for $US31,500.

The late Robert Maple-Brown drove the same old Saab around for 25 years (oddly enough, his son Dougal is now getting around dressed like a pimp from Godfather of Harlem). The enduring image of John Sevior, before he left Perpetual to establish Airlie, is one in bare feet. In his devotion to value investing, Sevior would even deny himself footwear.