Are you ready to embark on a journey into the world of investing? If you've been hearing about Berkshire Hathaway and its legendary leader, Warren Buffett, you might be wondering, "How much do I need to buy Berkshire Hathaway stock?" The answer is both simple and a little more complex than you might think. Let's break it down, step by step, so you can make an informed decision and potentially become a part of this iconic company's story.
Step 1: Understand the Two Sides of the Same Coin: BRK.A vs. BRK.B
Before you even think about the price, you need to know that Berkshire Hathaway has two different classes of stock, each with a different price tag and different rights. This is a crucial first step, so let's get it right.
Berkshire Hathaway Class A (BRK.A): The Original. This is the stock that has famously never split. As of today, June 30, 2025, the price of a single BRK.A share is around $729,000, which is approximately ₹6.23 crore. That's a serious amount of capital for a single share! This is why you don't hear about everyday investors buying a full share of BRK.A. It's designed for long-term, committed investors and institutions. It comes with full voting rights, meaning each share gets one vote on company matters.
Berkshire Hathaway Class B (BRK.B): The "Baby Berkshire". In 1996, to make the company more accessible to smaller investors and to fend off the creation of investment trusts that were offering fractional ownership with high fees, Berkshire Hathaway introduced the Class B shares. These shares are significantly more affordable. A single share of BRK.B is currently priced around $497. That's a much more manageable number for most retail investors. The key difference, aside from the price, is the voting rights. A BRK.B share has 1/10,000th of the voting rights of a BRK.A share. However, each BRK.A share can be converted into 1,500 BRK.B shares. This conversion is one-way only; you cannot convert BRK.B shares into BRK.A shares.
So, the first and most important question you need to ask yourself is: Are you looking to own a piece of history and have a vote in the company's direction with a massive capital outlay, or are you simply looking to invest in the company's performance at a more accessible price point?
 |
| How Much To Buy Berkshire Hathaway Stock |
Step 2: Determine Your Investment Style and Budget
Now that you know the difference between the two classes of shares, you can decide how much you want to invest. This step is about aligning your financial goals with your investment strategy.
Sub-heading: Investing in a Full Share of BRK.A
If you're considering buying a full BRK.A share, you're in a very small and elite club of investors. The sheer cost means this is a decision for those with a high net worth and a long-term, buy-and-hold philosophy.
Your Budget: You need at least the current share price of BRK.A, which as of June 30, 2025, is over $700,000. Keep in mind that stock prices fluctuate, so you need to be prepared for the price to move up or down.
Your Investment Philosophy: Buying BRK.A is not a short-term trade. It is a long-term commitment to a company with a strong history and a value-oriented approach to investing.
QuickTip: Pause to connect ideas in your mind.
Sub-heading: Investing in BRK.B
For the vast majority of investors, the BRK.B stock is the way to go. This opens the door to owning a piece of the company without needing a monumental amount of money.
Your Budget: The good news is you can get started with as little as the price of a single BRK.B share, which is around $497. However, even that isn't the minimum.
Embrace the Power of Fractional Shares: Many modern brokerages allow you to buy fractional shares. This is a game-changer! It means you don't have to buy a whole share. Instead, you can invest a specific dollar amount, and you'll own a corresponding fraction of a share. For example, if a BRK.B share is $497, you could invest just $50 and own approximately 0.1 shares. This makes investing in a company like Berkshire Hathaway incredibly accessible.
Step 3: Open and Fund a Brokerage Account
You can't buy stocks directly from Berkshire Hathaway. You need to use a brokerage account. This is the platform that allows you to buy and sell securities.
Choose a Brokerage: Look for a brokerage that offers access to U.S. stocks and, if your budget is limited, one that offers fractional shares. Popular options for Indian investors looking to invest in U.S. stocks include INDmoney, Groww, and other international brokers like eToro and Trading 212. For U.S.-based investors, platforms like Robinhood, Charles Schwab, and Fidelity are excellent choices.
Open and Fund Your Account: The process typically involves a KYC (Know Your Customer) verification. Once your account is activated, you'll need to transfer funds from your bank account to your brokerage account. This can be done via wire transfer, electronic funds transfer (EFT), or other methods depending on your brokerage and location.
Step 4: Place Your Order
This is the exciting part! Once your account is funded, you're ready to buy.
Search for the Ticker: In your brokerage platform, search for the stock using its ticker symbol: BRK.B for the Class B shares or BRK.A for the Class A shares.
Choose Your Order Type:
Market Order: This is the simplest. You buy the stock at the best available price at that moment. This is a good option if you want to buy immediately and aren't worried about slight price fluctuations.
Limit Order: This allows you to set a maximum price you are willing to pay. For example, you can set a limit order to buy BRK.B only if the price drops to $495 or below. This gives you more control over the price you pay.
Enter the Amount:
If you're buying whole shares, enter the number of shares you want.
If you're using fractional shares, enter the dollar amount you wish to invest.
Review and Submit: Double-check all the details of your order before you hit the "buy" or "submit" button.
 |
Step 5: Hold for the Long Term and Stay Informed
Warren Buffett's investment philosophy is all about long-term holding. After you've bought your shares, the real work begins: patience.
Tip: Break down complex paragraphs step by step.
Don't Panic: Stock prices will fluctuate. Don't check the price every day and don't panic if it goes down.
Stay Informed: Follow Berkshire Hathaway's news, annual reports, and of course, the annual shareholder meeting in Omaha. Understanding the business is key to being a confident long-term investor.
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to buy fractional shares of Berkshire Hathaway?
You can buy fractional shares of Berkshire Hathaway Class B (BRK.B) through brokerage platforms that offer this feature, such as Robinhood, Fidelity, Groww (in India), and others. Simply enter the dollar amount you wish to invest, and the platform will calculate the corresponding fraction of a share you will own.
How to invest in Berkshire Hathaway if I don't have enough money for a full share?
You can invest in Berkshire Hathaway by purchasing the more affordable Class B shares (BRK.B). If even the Class B share price is too high, you can utilize a brokerage that offers fractional shares, allowing you to invest any dollar amount you choose.
How to buy Berkshire Hathaway stock in India?
Indian investors can buy U.S. stocks, including Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B), by opening an international trading account with platforms like INDmoney, Groww, or other registered international brokers. These platforms facilitate the necessary currency conversion and legal compliance for overseas investments.
Tip: Reflect on what you just read.
How to find the current stock price of Berkshire Hathaway?
You can find the current stock price of both BRK.A and BRK.B on financial news websites (like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Yahoo Finance), major stock exchange websites (like Nasdaq or NYSE), and within your brokerage account's trading platform.
How to know if BRK.B is a better buy than BRK.A?
For most investors, BRK.B is a better buy due to its accessibility and affordability. The value of BRK.B is pegged to BRK.A (at a 1:1,500 ratio), so the investment performance is essentially the same. Unless you need the voting rights or are an institutional investor, BRK.B is the practical choice.
How to convert BRK.A shares to BRK.B shares?
A holder of BRK.A shares can convert each share into 1,500 BRK.B shares at any time. This conversion process is initiated through your brokerage. It's a one-way conversion; you cannot convert BRK.B shares to BRK.A.
How to track my Berkshire Hathaway investment's performance?
QuickTip: Don’t ignore the small print.
You can track your investment's performance through your brokerage account's portfolio dashboard. You can also monitor the stock price and news on financial websites and set up alerts for price changes.
How to decide how much money to invest in a single stock like Berkshire Hathaway?
This depends on your overall financial plan and risk tolerance. A common rule of thumb is to not allocate more than 5-10% of your total portfolio to a single stock, no matter how strong the company is. Diversification is key to managing risk.
How to research Berkshire Hathaway before buying?
You can research Berkshire Hathaway by reading their annual and quarterly reports, which are available on their investor relations website. You can also analyze their financial statements, news, and analyst recommendations.
How to know if Berkshire Hathaway is a good long-term investment?
While past performance is no guarantee of future results, Berkshire Hathaway has a long history of strong performance and a diverse portfolio of businesses. To determine if it's a good fit for your portfolio, you need to understand the company's business model, leadership, and your own investment goals.
 |
