Greetings, aspiring investor! Are you curious about the inner workings of one of the world's most successful and well-known companies, led by the legendary Warren Buffett? You've come to the right place. We're about to embark on a deep dive into the fascinating world of Berkshire Hathaway's shareholders, a group often referred to as a "Woodstock for Capitalists."
You might be surprised to learn that determining the exact number of shareholders isn't as simple as checking a single ticker. But fear not, we'll break it all down for you. Let's start with the basics...
Step 1: Understanding the Two Classes of Berkshire Hathaway Stock
Before we can even begin to count shareholders, we need to talk about the two different types of stock that Berkshire Hathaway offers: Class A (BRK.A) and Class B (BRK.B). This is a crucial distinction.
Class A Shares (BRK.A): The "Golden Ticket" These are the original shares of Berkshire Hathaway, and they are famously expensive. As of June 2025, a single Class A share is priced at over $700,000, making it the most expensive stock in the world. The price tag is so high because the company's board, under Warren Buffett's direction, has historically been against stock splits. Each Class A share has 10,000 times the voting power of a Class B share and can be converted into 1,500 Class B shares. These shares are primarily held by long-term, institutional investors and, of course, Warren Buffett himself.
Class B Shares (BRK.B): The "People's Share" In 1996, to make the stock more accessible to smaller investors, Berkshire Hathaway created the Class B shares. These are priced at a much more affordable level, currently around $485 per share, making them a popular choice for retail investors. While they have significantly less voting power than Class A shares (1/10,000th of a vote per share), they represent the same economic interest in the company. This is the key to understanding the shareholder count.
Engaging Question: Which class of stock would you be more likely to buy, and why? Share your thoughts!
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| How Many Berkshire Hathaway Shareholders Are There |
Step 2: Counting the Shareholders - A Complex Puzzle
Now, let's get to the main question: how many Berkshire Hathaway shareholders are there? The answer is not a simple, single number. Publicly available data provides a good picture, but it's important to understand the difference between a "record holder" and a "beneficial owner."
Record Holders: These are the individuals or entities whose names are registered directly with the company's transfer agent. This is a relatively small number. As of March 2002, a dated but relevant report from Berkshire Hathaway indicated approximately 8,500 record holders of Class A stock and 14,000 record holders of Class B stock. While this number has surely grown, it doesn't represent the full picture.
Beneficial Owners: This is where the numbers truly explode. A vast majority of shares, especially Class B, are held in "street name" through brokerage firms, mutual funds, and ETFs. For example, if you buy BRK.B through a brokerage like Angel One or Fidelity, your name isn't directly on Berkshire's books; the brokerage is the record holder, and you are the beneficial owner.
This is why looking at the institutional ownership is so important.
Sub-heading: The Institutional Powerhouses
Tip: Read actively — ask yourself questions as you go.
Major institutional investors hold massive stakes in Berkshire Hathaway, particularly in the more affordable Class B shares. These institutions hold shares on behalf of millions of individual investors through their funds.
Vanguard Group: A massive holder of Class B shares, owning over 148 million shares, representing about 11% of the total outstanding Class B shares.
BlackRock: Another giant in asset management, holding nearly 111.6 million Class B shares, about 8.3% of the total.
State Street Corporation: A significant institutional holder with almost 71.7 million Class B shares, making up around 5.35% of the total.
So, while these three entities might be counted as just three "record holders," they represent the investments of tens of millions of people.
Sub-heading: The Individual and Insider Stakes
While institutional investors hold the bulk of the Class B shares, it's also important to acknowledge the individual and insider shareholders who hold both A and B shares.
Warren Buffett: The man himself, with a substantial personal stake, currently holding 198,117 Class A shares and 1,144 Class B shares after recent charitable donations. This gives him a significant voting power of over 30% on a combined basis.
Susan Buffett: Warren Buffett's daughter and a board member, she holds Class A and B shares, demonstrating a family commitment to the company.
Other key insiders: Greg Abel, Ajit Jain, and other board members also hold notable positions, aligning their interests with the company's long-term success.
Step 3: The Annual Meeting - A True Barometer of Shareholder Enthusiasm
One of the most unique and telling indicators of the shareholder base is the annual Berkshire Hathaway shareholder meeting in Omaha, Nebraska. Known as the "Woodstock for Capitalists," this event draws tens of thousands of shareholders from all over the world.
Getting In: You need a meeting credential, and as a shareholder of either Class A or Class B stock, you are entitled to up to four credentials. Even owning a single Class B share, currently worth around $485, can get you a ticket to this exclusive event.
Attendance Figures: Attendance numbers at the annual meeting are a great proxy for the passionate, engaged shareholder base. While the exact number of attendees fluctuates, it has been reported to be in the tens of thousands, with a recent meeting having an all-time high attendance of 19,700 people. This is a stark contrast to most corporate annual meetings, which are often sparsely attended.
Step 4: Putting it all Together: The Final Estimate
So, how many shareholders are there in total? It's impossible to get a precise, real-time number, but we can make a very educated estimate by combining the different types of ownership.
QuickTip: Scan the start and end of paragraphs.
Record Holders (Individuals & Institutions): This number is in the thousands, likely around 20,000 to 30,000 record holders.
Beneficial Owners (through funds and brokerages): This is where the number soars into the millions. Given that major index funds and ETFs tracking the S&P 500 hold Berkshire Hathaway stock, and these funds are owned by millions of investors globally, it's safe to say that the number of beneficial owners is well into the millions.
Therefore, while the number of direct, or "record," shareholders is relatively small, the total number of individuals who have an ownership stake in Berkshire Hathaway is likely in the tens of millions. It's a testament to the broad appeal and widespread trust in Warren Buffett's investment philosophy.
10 Related FAQ Subheadings
How to buy Berkshire Hathaway stock?
You can buy Berkshire Hathaway Class B (BRK.B) stock through any online brokerage account. Simply open and fund an account, search for the ticker symbol BRK.B, and place a buy order for the desired number of shares or a specific dollar amount using fractional shares.
How to attend the Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting?
To attend the annual meeting, you must be a shareholder of either Class A or Class B stock. You can request up to four meeting credentials with your annual report. You can also sometimes find passes for sale on secondary markets like eBay.
How to convert Berkshire Hathaway Class A shares to Class B?
Tip: Remember, the small details add value.
If you hold Class A shares, you can convert them to Class B shares by contacting the company's transfer agent, Wells Fargo Bank. If your shares are held in a "street name" through a broker, you need to contact your brokerage to make the request.
How to get the Berkshire Hathaway annual report?
The annual report is sent to registered shareholders. You can also access it for free on the Berkshire Hathaway official website's "Annual Reports" section.
How to contact Berkshire Hathaway's investor relations?
You can contact the company's investor relations department through their official website or by contacting their transfer agent, Wells Fargo Bank, who handles shareholder relations.
How to calculate the value of Class B shares relative to Class A?
Each Class A share can be converted into 1,500 Class B shares. Therefore, the value of a Class B share is approximately 1/1,500th of the value of a Class A share, though the market price may fluctuate slightly.
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How to find out who owns the most Berkshire Hathaway stock?
Warren Buffett is the largest individual shareholder of Class A shares. The largest institutional holders of Class B shares are major asset managers like Vanguard, BlackRock, and State Street.
How to invest in Berkshire Hathaway if I can't afford a full share?
Many brokerages offer the option to buy fractional shares. This allows you to invest a specific dollar amount (e.g., $100) and own a fraction of a BRK.B share.
How to find the latest news and information about Berkshire Hathaway?
You can find news and financial filings on the company's official website, through financial news outlets, and by checking their SEC filings (such as Form 13F).
How to understand Berkshire Hathaway's business model?
Berkshire Hathaway is a diversified holding company. It owns a vast array of businesses outright, such as GEICO and Dairy Queen, and also holds significant minority stakes in publicly traded companies like Apple and Coca-Cola.
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