Of course! Let's delve into the fascinating topic of Warren Buffett's ownership of Berkshire Hathaway. It's a question that gets to the heart of what makes this company so unique and has significant implications for its future. So, are you ready to uncover the details of the Oracle of Omaha's stake in his legendary conglomerate? Let's get started!
Step 1: The Foundation - Understanding Berkshire Hathaway's Two Classes of Stock
Before we can talk about how much Warren Buffett owns, we need to understand what he owns. Berkshire Hathaway has two main classes of stock: Class A (BRK.A) and Class B (BRK.B). This is a crucial distinction that affects everything from the share price to voting rights.
Class A Shares (BRK.A): The Original, High-Priced Shares
These are the original shares of the company, and they are famously expensive. As of late June 2025, a single Class A share trades for over $700,000.
One of the key reasons for this high price is Warren Buffett's philosophy. He has famously refused to split the Class A stock, believing it attracts long-term, value-oriented investors who are committed to the company's future, not just short-term traders.
Each Class A share has full voting rights. This is a critical point when we look at Buffett's control over the company.
A Class A share can be converted into 1,500 Class B shares at any time.
Class B Shares (BRK.B): The More Accessible Alternative
To make the stock more accessible to smaller investors and to prevent the creation of "unit trusts" that would hold small fractions of Class A shares, Buffett created the Class B shares in 1996.
The price is significantly lower, trading at a tiny fraction of the Class A share price.
A Class B share represents 1/1,500th of the economic interest of a Class A share.
However, and this is a very important difference, a Class B share only has 1/10,000th of the voting rights of a Class A share. This ensures that the control of the company remains concentrated.
Class B shares cannot be converted back into Class A shares.
So, why does this matter? It means that Buffett's ownership isn't just about the number of shares, but also the type of shares. His holdings of the super-expensive, high-voting-power Class A shares give him a level of control that far exceeds his simple economic stake.
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| How Much Of Berkshire Hathaway Does Buffett Own |
Step 2: Quantifying the Oracle's Stake
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Now that we know the different types of shares, let's get to the numbers. So, how much of Berkshire Hathaway does Buffett own?
Based on the most recent proxy statements and public filings, here's a breakdown:
Class A Shares Owned: Warren Buffett personally holds a staggering number of Class A shares. As of the most recent filings, this number is approximately 206,359 Class A shares. This number is subject to slight fluctuations due to his ongoing charitable giving.
Class B Shares Owned: While his Class A holdings are the most significant, Buffett also owns a small number of Class B shares, around 951.
Economic Interest: When you combine his Class A and Class B holdings, his ownership represents a significant economic interest in the company. Although the exact percentage can vary slightly, it is around 14-15% of the total economic interest in Berkshire Hathaway.
Voting Power: This is where things get even more interesting. Due to the superior voting rights of the Class A shares, Buffett's ownership translates into a disproportionately large amount of control. He holds approximately 30% to 38% of the total voting power of the company.
Think about that for a moment. With his voting power, it is essentially impossible for any major decision to be made at Berkshire Hathaway without his consent. This level of control has allowed him to build the company according to his vision for over five decades. It is a testament to his long-term commitment and his ability to run the company without being influenced by short-term shareholder pressures.
Step 3: The Impact of Philanthropy
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You might be thinking, "Wait, isn't he giving away his fortune?" And you would be right. This is a crucial part of the story.
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Warren Buffett has pledged to give away almost his entire fortune to charitable causes, primarily through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, as well as foundations run by his children. He has been systematically donating a portion of his Berkshire Hathaway shares since 2006.
Annual Donations: Each year, Buffett donates millions of Berkshire Hathaway Class B shares to these foundations. In late June 2025, for example, he announced a record donation of over $6 billion in Berkshire shares to five charitable foundations.
The "Giving Pledge": Buffett is one of the founders of "The Giving Pledge," a movement where billionaires commit to giving away the majority of their wealth to philanthropy.
A Declining Stake, but Undiminished Control: While his economic interest in Berkshire Hathaway has been slowly declining due to these donations, his voting power remains largely intact because he primarily donates Class B shares, which have minimal voting rights. This clever strategy allows him to fulfill his philanthropic goals while maintaining control over the company he built.
Step 4: The Succession Plan and Future Ownership
The question of Buffett's ownership is inextricably linked to the company's future. With Buffett at the age of 94, succession is a topic of great importance to investors.
Greg Abel as Successor: Greg Abel has been named as Buffett's successor for the CEO role. This provides a clear leadership path.
Buffett's Ongoing Role: While he plans to step down as CEO, he intends to remain chairman. He has stated that he has no intention of selling any of his remaining Class A shares.
Control After Buffett: Upon his death, his remaining shares will be distributed to his charitable foundations over a ten-year period. While the foundations will then own a large economic stake, the distributed shares will be a mix of Class A and Class B, and the control and voting power will be dispersed. The board of directors will become even more crucial in guiding the company's future.
In essence, Warren Buffett has engineered a plan that ensures Berkshire Hathaway's values and long-term vision will endure long after he is gone. His ownership is not just a number on a balance sheet; it is a symbol of his unwavering belief in the company and his commitment to its enduring legacy.
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Related FAQ Questions
Here are 10 related FAQ questions with quick answers:
How to find out Warren Buffett's current ownership percentage? You can find the most up-to-date information on Warren Buffett's ownership by checking Berkshire Hathaway's annual proxy statement (Form DEF 14A) filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
How to buy a Berkshire Hathaway Class A share? Due to the incredibly high price, buying a single Class A share requires a significant amount of capital. You would need to use a brokerage account that allows for the purchase of these high-priced shares, and you should be aware of the large transaction costs involved.
How to convert a Berkshire Hathaway Class A share to Class B? Each Class A share is convertible into 1,500 Class B shares at the holder's option. You would need to contact your brokerage to initiate this conversion process.
How to buy Berkshire Hathaway Class B shares? You can buy Class B shares (BRK.B) through any standard brokerage account, just like any other publicly traded stock. The price per share is much more affordable for retail investors.
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How to understand the difference in voting rights? Class A shares have significantly more voting power (1 vote per share) than Class B shares (1/10,000th of a vote per share), which means that even a small number of Class A shares can have a big impact on company decisions.
How to know the value of Warren Buffett's stake? The value of his stake fluctuates daily with the market price of Berkshire Hathaway's stock. You can estimate it by multiplying the number of shares he owns by the current share price.
How to explain why Buffett doesn't split the Class A stock? Buffett has always believed that keeping the Class A stock at a high price encourages a long-term, buy-and-hold mindset among investors, which he sees as beneficial to the company's stability and growth.
How to understand Berkshire Hathaway's ownership structure without Buffett? After Buffett's passing, his shares will be distributed to foundations. The company's future will be guided by its board of directors, including Greg Abel, who is designated as the CEO successor.
How to track Warren Buffett's charitable donations of Berkshire shares? Information on his charitable donations is typically disclosed in company press releases and SEC filings, such as Form 4, which reports insider transactions.
How to compare Buffett's ownership to other major shareholders? While institutional investors like Vanguard and BlackRock hold large amounts of Class B shares, no single individual or institution comes close to matching Warren Buffett's direct ownership and control through his Class A shares.
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