An anonymous bidder has won a private lunch with billionaire investor Warren Buffett in an ebay auction - to the tune of 2.3 million US dollars.

The bid fell short of last year's high bid of 2.6 million US dollars.

The identity of the winning bidder wasn't immediately released. All proceeds go to the Glide Foundation, which provides social services to the poor and homeless in San Francisco.

Buffett will spend several hours discussing whatever it is the winner would like to talk about, traditionally at New York's Smith and Wollensky steak house.

Last year's auction set a new record for the most expensive charity item ever sold on eBay, when an anonymous American paid 2.6 million US dollars to spend time with Buffett.

The most expensive item ever sold on eBay was a jet that drew a bid of 4.9 million US dollars.

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