Warren Buffett's financial-crisis bailouts inspired a key element of the US government's rescue deals with the "big four" airlines this week. The famed investor invested billions in the likes of Goldman Sachs and demanded warrants in return, which he used to buy their shares at a discount years later and make a healthy return. Sen. Jack Reed told Business Insider that Buffett's bailouts "absolutely" spurred him to write warrant provisions for the rescue bill in 2008 and the one passed last month, empowering the US Treasury to seek warrants in exchange for relief funds.