How Much Berkshire Hathaway Does Warren Buffett Own? A Deep Dive into the Oracle's Stake
Hello, future value investor! Have you ever wondered about the man behind the curtain at one of the world's most successful conglomerates, Berkshire Hathaway? Specifically, how much of this sprawling empire does Warren Buffett, the "Oracle of Omaha" himself, truly own? It's a question that gets to the heart of his investing philosophy and his incredible alignment with shareholders. Let's embark on a journey to understand this fascinating topic, step-by-step.
Step 1: The First Thing You Need to Know – It's Not a Simple Number!
Before we dive into the details, let's clear up a common misconception. You might think you can just look up a single number and be done. But with Berkshire Hathaway, it's a bit more complex, and that's what makes it so interesting. The company has two classes of stock: the highly priced Class A shares (BRK.A) and the more accessible Class B shares (BRK.B). The difference in their price and voting rights is a direct reflection of Buffett's philosophy.
So, are you ready to uncover the full picture? Let's go!
Step 2: Unpacking the Two Share Classes
To understand Buffett's ownership, you first need to understand the shares themselves.
Sub-heading: Class A Shares (BRK.A): The Original and Priceless
These are the OG shares of Berkshire Hathaway. They are known for their incredibly high price per share. Warren Buffett has famously refused to split these shares, believing it attracts long-term, like-minded investors who are focused on the company's long-term value, not short-term speculation.
Key Characteristics:
High Price: As of June 2025, a single Class A share trades at a price that would make most investors' heads spin, often well over $600,000.
High Voting Power: Each Class A share has 10,000 times the voting power of a Class B share. This is a crucial point for control of the company.
Convertibility: Class A shares can be converted into Class B shares at a ratio of 1:1,500. However, the reverse is not possible.
Sub-heading: Class B Shares (BRK.B): The People's Shares
Introduced in 1996 to prevent the creation of "copycat" mutual funds that would track Berkshire's portfolio, Class B shares made the company's stock accessible to the average investor.
Key Characteristics:
Accessible Price: These shares trade for a fraction of the price of Class A shares, making them affordable for a wide range of investors.
Lower Voting Power: Each Class B share has 1/10,000th of the voting power of a Class A share.
No Convertibility: You cannot convert a Class B share into a Class A share.
Step 3: Quantifying Warren Buffett's Ownership
Now, let's get to the numbers you've been waiting for. It's important to remember that these numbers can fluctuate slightly due to donations, conversions, and share buybacks. However, the general picture remains consistent.
Sub-heading: The Class A Share Count
As of a recent disclosure in June 2025, Warren Buffett's personal holdings consist of a staggering number of Class A shares. After a recent round of significant charitable donations, reports indicate that his stake is around 198,117 Class A shares. He has stated that he has not bought or sold any of his Berkshire shares for personal use since 2006, instead choosing to gradually give them away to various charitable foundations.
Sub-heading: The Class B Share Count
While the Class A shares are the real measure of his control and wealth in the company, Buffett also holds a much smaller number of Class B shares. Reports from June 2025 indicate he owns around 1,144 Class B shares. These are a drop in the bucket compared to his Class A holdings, but they are still a part of his overall ownership.
Step 4: Calculating the Percentage Ownership and Voting Power
This is where it gets really interesting. Let's put these numbers into perspective by looking at his ownership percentage and, more importantly, his voting power.
Sub-heading: The Unmatched Economic Interest
Based on the latest data on total shares outstanding for both Class A and Class B, Buffett's ownership translates to an eye-popping 13.8% of the company's stock (based on reported shares outstanding). This is a monumental stake and a testament to his unwavering confidence in the business he built.
Sub-heading: The Unrivaled Voting Power
This is the most critical aspect of Buffett's ownership. Due to the superior voting rights of the Class A shares, his holdings give him a level of control that is unmatched by any other individual or institution. While his economic interest is around 13.8%, his voting power is significantly higher. Some estimates from earlier this year placed his voting power at over 30%, making it nearly impossible for any major decision to be passed without his approval.
Think about it: He is not just a CEO or a chairman; he is the largest shareholder, with the votes to prove it. This ensures that his vision and principles for the company are upheld.
Step 5: The Charitable Giving and the Future of His Stake
Buffett's ownership is a dynamic number because he is actively giving away his fortune.
Sub-heading: The Giving Pledge and Annual Donations
As part of the "Giving Pledge," which he co-founded with Bill Gates, Buffett has committed to giving away the vast majority of his wealth to philanthropy. He makes substantial annual donations of his Berkshire Hathaway Class B shares to five charitable foundations, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and those run by his children.
In June 2025 alone, he donated over $6 billion worth of Berkshire stock, his largest annual gift to date. This is a crucial detail, as it shows that his ownership stake, while immense, is gradually being reduced over time for charitable purposes.
Sub-heading: What Happens After Buffett?
This is a question on everyone's mind. Buffett has established a plan for his shares after his death. The majority of his remaining shares will be transferred to a charitable trust overseen by his children. This trust will then have a decade to distribute the money. This ensures his legacy of philanthropy continues while also providing a clear path for the future of his stake in the company he so meticulously built.
10 Related FAQs
How to find the latest share count of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway holdings? The most accurate and up-to-date information on Warren Buffett's personal share count is typically found in regulatory filings, such as the company's annual proxy statement (DEF 14A) and his personal Form 4 filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). These are publicly available on the SEC's EDGAR database.
How to calculate the value of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway stake? To calculate the value, you can multiply the number of Class A shares he owns by the current market price of a BRK.A share, and do the same for his Class B shares. Summing these two values will give you the total market value of his personal holdings.
How to convert Berkshire Hathaway Class A shares to Class B shares? Each Class A share can be converted into 1,500 Class B shares. This process is typically handled through your brokerage. You would contact your broker and provide instructions for the conversion.
How to buy Berkshire Hathaway stock? You can buy Berkshire Hathaway stock (either BRK.A or BRK.B) through any licensed stock brokerage, either online or in-person. The Class B shares are much more accessible for individual investors due to their lower price.
How to understand the difference between Class A and Class B shares? The key differences are price, voting rights, and convertibility. Class A is expensive and has superior voting rights, while Class B is affordable and has limited voting rights. Only Class A can be converted to Class B, not the other way around.
How to get a copy of the Berkshire Hathaway annual report? The annual report, which includes Buffett's famous shareholder letter, is available for free on the Berkshire Hathaway website. You can also find it on the SEC's EDGAR database.
How to attend the Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting? Attending the annual meeting in Omaha, Nebraska, is a rite of passage for many investors. You must own at least one share of Berkshire Hathaway stock (either class) to receive a credential to attend.
How to find out who the other major shareholders of Berkshire Hathaway are? Large institutional investors like Vanguard and BlackRock hold significant stakes in the Class B shares. You can find this information in the company's regulatory filings and on financial data websites that track institutional ownership.
How to track Berkshire Hathaway's portfolio of owned companies? Berkshire Hathaway discloses its major stock holdings in its quarterly 13F filing with the SEC. This document lists the public equities the company owns and can be found on the SEC's EDGAR database.
How to understand why Warren Buffett doesn't split the Class A shares? Buffett has repeatedly stated that he wants to attract long-term, value-oriented investors, and he believes the high price of the Class A shares acts as a deterrent to short-term speculators and day traders.
