Buffett Says He Initiated Berkshire's $31B Alphabet Stake

Warren Buffett, the 95-year-old chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, confirmed on July 15 that he personally initiated the conglomerate's massive investment in Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google, a stake now valued at approximately $31 billion. The disclosure, made during an interview on CNBC, settles speculation over whether the decision originated with Buffett or his designated successor, CEO Greg Abel.

Berkshire Hathaway first began accumulating Alphabet shares in the third quarter of 2025, starting with a position worth about $4.3 billion. The investment grew significantly in June 2026 when Berkshire participated in a $10 billion private placement by Alphabet, part of the tech giant's broader $80 billion equity raise to fund its artificial intelligence infrastructure expansion. The stake is now Berkshire's third-largest equity holding, trailing only its positions in Apple and American Express.

Buffett framed the investment around Alphabet's fundamental financial strength, stating the company is more likely to be a winner than 90 to 95 percent of the stock picks merchandised on Wall Street. He pointed to Alphabet's record, including first-quarter revenue growth of 22% to...