The origin of the phrase is unknown.[1] It has been attributed to Warren Buffett[2] since in Buffett's first fund he raised $105,000 from 11 doctors, himself placing a token sum of $100.00 as his "skin in the game";Legendary etymologist William Safire dispelled the Buffett origin.[5]
Another possible - and more palatable - explanation is that the phrase draws its origins from William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, in which the antagonist, Shylock, stipulates that the protagonist, Antonio, must promise a pound of his own flesh as collateral, to be exacted by Shylock in the event that Antonio's friend Bassanio defaults on the loan to which Antonio is guarantor.
