Berkshire Hathaway Gains $12 Billion in 2025 Amid Market Volatility; Buffett's Wealth Matches Gates'

Despite global market volatility and widespread stock sell-offs, Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway has experienced significant growth in 2025. Reports indicate a 9% increase since the start of the year, with Buffett's personal wealth rising by $12 billion to match Bill Gates' net worth at $155 billion. This contrasts with losses suffered by other billionaires during the same period. Buffett's strategic decisions, including reducing Apple shares and increasing Berkshire Hathaway's cash reserves to $300 billion, have been pivotal in shielding the company from market downturns. While Berkshire Hathaway reduced its Apple holdings over several quarters in 2024, regulatory filings in February 2025 showed the firm held steady at 300 million shares. This substantial cash position allows Berkshire Hathaway to capitalize on future investment opportunities, especially during market downturns. The company's cash reserves reached $334 billion by the end of 2024. Berkshire Hathaway's success is also attributed to strong performance in its insurance underwriting and investment income. The company's fourth-quarter operating profit jumped 71% to $14.53 billion in 2024, with net income for the year totaling $89 billion. Buffett has reaffirmed his preference for stocks over bonds, indicating that Berkshire Hathaway's cash reserve will be deployed into equities.