Welcome, aspiring investor! Are you curious about who holds the keys to one of the most prestigious and expensive stocks in the world? You've come to the right place. Owning a share of Berkshire Hathaway's Class A stock () isn't just about investing in a company; it's about joining an exclusive club of shareholders, and at the top of that list is the legendary "Oracle of Omaha" himself, Warren Buffett.
The question of "how many people own Berkshire Hathaway Class A stock" is a fascinating one, because unlike many publicly traded companies with millions of shareholders, the ownership of is highly concentrated. This is due to its famously high price, which has reached over $700,000 per share and has never undergone a stock split. Let's delve into the details and find out exactly who holds this coveted asset.
Step 1: Understand the Two Classes of Berkshire Hathaway Stock
Before we dive into the numbers, it's crucial to understand that Berkshire Hathaway has two classes of stock: Class A () and Class B ().
Class A Shares (): These are the original shares, known for their sky-high price and a history of never splitting. They carry significant voting rights, with each Class A share having the voting power of 10,000 Class B shares. This makes them the ultimate control mechanism for the company, and they are primarily held by institutional investors, foundations, and high-net-worth individuals, including Warren Buffett.
Class B Shares (): Introduced in 1996 and later split 50-to-1 in 2010, these shares were created to be more accessible to a wider range of investors. While their price is much lower (currently in the hundreds of dollars), their voting rights are proportionally smaller. This is the stock that most individual investors buy when they want to own a piece of Berkshire Hathaway.
So, when we talk about who owns Class A stock, we are talking about a very specific and wealthy group of owners.
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| How Many People Own Berkshire Hathaway Class A Stock |
Step 2: Unveiling the Primary Owners of Class A Stock
The ownership of Berkshire Hathaway's Class A stock is dominated by a few key entities and individuals. The data on institutional ownership is publicly available through SEC filings, giving us a clear picture.
Warren Buffett: The Largest Shareholder by Far
As of early 2025, Warren Buffett personally owns a staggering number of Class A shares, representing a substantial portion of the total outstanding shares. He holds around 38% of the total Class A shares and has significant voting power. His ownership gives him the ultimate control over the company's direction.
This is a critical point: While Buffett is a billionaire, his fortune is largely tied to his Berkshire Hathaway holdings. He has also been progressively donating his shares to various foundations, a process that is well-documented.
Major Institutional Holders
Beyond Buffett, a relatively small number of institutional investors hold the majority of the remaining Class A shares. These are typically large asset management firms, hedge funds, and other financial institutions.
Fidelity Investments (FMR, LLC): The parent company of Fidelity is a major institutional holder of , with a significant stake that makes it a distant second to Buffett.
First Manhattan Co.: Another notable investment firm with a history of close ties to Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway is also a prominent owner.
Other institutional investors: You'll find a range of other investment firms and mutual funds that hold Class A shares, but their individual holdings are dwarfed by the major players.
Step 3: Calculating the Number of Owners
Determining the exact number of individual owners of Class A stock is challenging because stock ownership is tracked through brokerage accounts, and a single brokerage firm might hold shares on behalf of thousands of clients. However, based on public filings and expert estimates, we can piece together a strong picture.
Total Shares Outstanding: As of early 2025, there are only about 1.44 million Class A shares outstanding. This is a very small number for a publicly traded company.
The Concentration of Ownership: Given that Warren Buffett and a handful of institutional investors hold the vast majority of these shares, the number of individual, retail investors who own even one full Class A share is extremely small.
A "Club of the Elite": It's often referred to as a "club" because of the high barrier to entry. While there are a few thousand institutional holders, the number of individual owners is likely in the tens of thousands, at most, worldwide. The reason for this is purely the price tag. Owning a single share requires a significant capital investment.
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Step 4: The Impact of Fractional Shares
Now, here's where things get interesting and a bit more complicated. With the rise of modern brokerage platforms, many investors can now buy "fractional shares."
What are Fractional Shares?: This allows you to buy a portion of a share, even if you can't afford the full price. For example, if a share costs $700,000, you could invest $700 and own 1/1000th of a share.
Does this apply to Class A?: While fractional share trading is becoming more common, it's more prevalent for Class B shares. However, some brokerages do offer fractional ownership of Class A shares, making it possible for a wider audience to have a sliver of ownership.
So, does this change the number of owners?: Yes and no. It increases the number of people with a financial interest in Class A stock, but it doesn't change the number of full shares owned or the concentrated voting power. A brokerage holding one full share might have that share distributed among 1,000 fractional owners, but it is still just one share from a voting perspective.
Step 5: The Annual Shareholder Meeting: A Glimpse into the Shareholder Base
The annual Berkshire Hathaway shareholder meeting, held in Omaha, Nebraska, is a testament to the company's unique shareholder base. While the meeting is famously attended by tens of thousands of people, the vast majority of them are holders of the more affordable Class B shares. The meeting is a celebration of the company's culture and success, not just a formal business proceeding. It's a gathering of loyal followers, often referred to as "Buffett-ologists," who come to hear from the legendary investor.
The atmosphere is unique: It's like a pilgrimage for investors, highlighting the deep loyalty and personal connection many have to the company, regardless of the class of stock they own.
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Related FAQs: Your Quick Guide to Berkshire Hathaway Stock
Here are 10 quick answers to your most pressing questions about buying and owning Berkshire Hathaway stock.
How to buy Berkshire Hathaway Class A stock? To buy a full Class A share, you need a brokerage account with a very large cash balance. You would then place a market or limit order for the ticker symbol . Given the price, this is generally only feasible for institutional investors and ultra-high-net-worth individuals.
How to buy Berkshire Hathaway Class B stock? This is the easier route for most individual investors. You can buy Class B shares () through any standard brokerage account. You can buy full shares or, on many platforms, fractional shares.
How to get a fractional share of Berkshire Hathaway Class A? You would need to use a brokerage platform that specifically offers fractional share trading. Search for the ticker symbol and specify the dollar amount you wish to invest, rather than the number of shares.
How to attend the Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting? You must be a shareholder of either Class A or Class B stock to attend the meeting. You can request a credential for the meeting from Berkshire Hathaway's investor relations website using proof of your share ownership.
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How to find the current price of Berkshire Hathaway Class A stock? You can find the real-time price of on any financial news website (like Bloomberg, Reuters, Yahoo Finance, or Google Finance) or through your brokerage platform.
How to calculate the value of my Berkshire Hathaway Class A shares? Multiply the number of shares you own by the current market price of . For example, if you own 1 share and the price is $750,000, your holding is worth $750,000.
How to get a dividend from Berkshire Hathaway? Berkshire Hathaway famously does not pay a dividend. Warren Buffett believes that the company can better use the retained earnings to grow its businesses and investments, creating more value for shareholders in the long run.
How to see who owns the most Berkshire Hathaway stock? Public filings with the SEC (specifically 13F filings from institutional investors) will show the largest institutional holders. For individual ownership, Warren Buffett is the indisputable largest holder, as detailed in the company's proxy statements.
How to understand the difference between Class A and Class B stock? Class A is the original, expensive stock with high voting power. Class B is the more affordable stock with lower voting power, created for retail investors. 1 Class A share is convertible into 1,500 Class B shares.
How to invest in Berkshire Hathaway without buying a stock? You can invest indirectly by buying an index fund or ETF that holds Berkshire Hathaway stock as part of its portfolio. Many S&P 500 index funds, for example, will hold both and shares.
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