Warren Buffett addressed Berkshire Hathaway's annual meeting in Omaha, Nebraska, on May 3, 2025, defending balanced trade and stating that tariffs should not be used as a "weapon" [12, 17, 19]. He emphasized that global prosperity benefits the United States [12, 17, 19].
Buffett, who is stepping down as CEO at the end of 2025, addressed concerns about federal budget deficits and urged investors to remain patient amid market volatility [5, 6, 13, 14, 18, 20]. Berkshire's cash stake grew to a record $347.7 billion in the first quarter of 2025 [7, 11].
The meeting also featured discussions on Berkshire's investments, including its stakes in Japanese trading houses, and the company's approach to managing its large cash reserves [1, 23, 27]. Vice Chairmen Greg Abel and Ajit Jain participated in answering shareholder questions [2, 3, 4, 24].
Ajit Jain highlighted AI's potential to revolutionize the insurance industry, emphasizing a risk-aware approach to innovation [1, 4, 9]. Greg Abel, designated as Buffett's successor, is expected to maintain Berkshire's decentralized culture [3, 5, 6, 13, 20].
The meeting, often called "Woodstock for Capitalists," drew nearly 20,000 attendees [9]. Buffett's remarks underscored the importance of patience and disciplined execution in an era of rapid technological change [9].
The event included a Q&A session broadcast on CNBC and a 5K run presented by Brooks Running [3, 25]. The next annual meeting is scheduled for May 2, 2026 [25].