With the announcement that he will leave the command of Berkshire Hathaway later this year, Warren Buffett received honors from leaders from the technology and financial sectors, who attributed part of his success to the billionaire’s lessons.
Buffett has transformed a most valuable textile textile company in the world among those that do not work in technology or state oil, delivering a return greater than 5,500,000% to Berkshire actions since 1964. Along the way, it has become a figure recognized for its simple wisdom and effects of effect.
The investor inspired generations and consolidated practices that still shape the financial market: investing with courage in times of fear, patience to harvest fruits in the long run and use of the insurance sector as a stable source of capital.
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Cook, Moynihan and Dimon are among those who claimed to have learned directly from Buffett.
“There was never someone like Warren,” Cook wrote on social networks after the surprise announcement of Buffett’s departure. “Numerous people, including me, were inspired by their wisdom.”
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Berkshire has expanded its presence in various sectors, operating around 180 companies with annual revenue close to $ 400 billion. The portfolio includes railways, energy distributors, gas stations, vehicle dealers, builders, chemical manufacturers and real estate brokers. It also controls brands known as Geico, Dairy Queen, Fruit of the Loom, Duracell, Helzberg Diamonds and See’s Candies.
Buffett is better known for his ability to choose actions. A reduced group of papers-Apple, American Express, Coca-Cola, Bank of America and Chevron-accounts for about 70% of the company’s $ 263 billion wallet. As he himself said, “an extraordinary business can compensate for many median decisions.”
Berkshire has also accumulated a record cash volume: $ 347.7 billion at the end of the first quarter, exceeding the total of the Ivy League universities. The company has about 5% of US Treasury titles in circulation and last year paid nearly $ 27 billion in taxes, a amount Buffett called the largest ever paid by a US company.
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In recent times, Buffett has awaited a great opportunity to allocate this capital – a decision that will be in charge of Greg Abel, his personally chosen successor.
Despite the confidence shown by executives like Cook, Abel’s mission will be challenging.
“Warren Buffett represents all that is good in American capitalism and America itself – investing in the growth of the country and its companies with integrity, optimism and common sense,” Dimon said. “I learn from him to this day and be proud to call him a friend.”
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“The life lessons he conveys are as valuable as his business view,” said Moynihan. “I learned a lot from him and I hope to keep learning.”
Next, the numbers that summarize Buffett’s legacy, next to his longtime partner, the late Charlie Munger:
5.502.284%
Accumulated return between 1964 and 2024 in the market value per share of Berkshire Hathaway. In the same period, the S&P 500, with dividends, was high of 39,054%. This is equivalent to an annualized return of almost 20%, almost double the rate.
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$ 1.2 trillion
Berkshire’s current market value, eighth largest in the world among publicly traded companies.
392.396
Number of employees in Berkshire -controlled companies at the end of 2024.
US $ 167 billion
Value of Buffett Class A shares at Berkshire Hathaway.
1
Number of times Berkshire paid dividends between 1965 and 2024. According to Buffett, the payment made in 1967 “looks like a nightmare.”
