“Have you come to get religion?” asks John Teeger as we approach the entranceway of Berkshire Hathaway’s annual meeting at Omaha’s Qwest Centre, a gleaming arena that will host performances by Neil Diamond and the Jonas Brothers later this year.

As more than 31,000 followers – like Mr Teeger – gather to hear the company’s legendary boss, Warren Buffett, riff on everything from bond insurance to US energy policy, a voice-over actor welcomes them to the “most gloriously capitalist weekend”.