Warren Buffett revealed he personally initiated Berkshire Hathaway’s roughly $31 billion investment in Alphabet, settling speculation about whether the decision came from his successor, CEO Greg Abel. In a CNBC interview, the 95-year-old investor confirmed that the massive bet on Google’s parent company was his call, marking a significant shift in Berkshire’s long-standing reluctance to invest heavily in technology stocks.
Berkshire first disclosed a stake in Alphabet during the third quarter of 2025, when it purchased approximately $4.3 billion worth of shares. The conglomerate then dramatically expanded the position in the first quarter of 2026, and in June 2026, participated in a $10 billion private placement by Alphabet at a 6% discount to market price. The total position now stands at roughly $31 billion, making it Berkshire’s third-largest equity holding behind Apple and American Express.
“I initiated it,” Buffett said in the interview with CNBC’s Becky Quick. “I am not doing anything that he doesn’t approve of. He’s not doing anything I don’t approve of. We talk all the time, but he is the decider.” The comment clarified that while Abel, who took over as CEO at the start of 2026, has final authority on capital decisions, Buffett drove the Alphabet investment before formally stepping down from his executive role.
Buffett acknowledged he “made a mistake” by not investing in Alphabet sooner. He has long expressed regret over missing the company’s early rise, saying in 2018 that despite witnessing Google’s advertising success through Geico, an early customer, he lacked confidence the company would emerge as the long-term winner in the rapidly evolving technology industry. Alphabet shares have surged 559% since Buffett publicly lamented passing on the stock in 2017.
The investment reflects Buffett’s focus on finding businesses that earn high returns on capital for extended periods. However, he noted that while Alphabet is a sizable holding, it isn’t among his very favorite businesses. “I would say that I don’t like it as well as at least four or five other businesses that we own,” he said. Buffett also flagged the enormous capital commitments required to compete in artificial intelligence as a key concern. “The real question with Google and all of its competitors now, because they’re all laying out hundreds of billions, and that’s real money,” he said.
Alphabet announced in June 2026 that it plans to raise $80 billion through equity offerings to fund AI infrastructure expansion, with Berkshire’s $10 billion private placement as a cornerstone commitment. The company lifted its 2026 capital expenditure guidance to a range of $180 billion to $190 billion, underscoring the scale of investment required to remain competitive in the AI arms race. Berkshire’s participation signals the investor’s confidence in Alphabet’s ability to generate returns despite the capital-intensive nature of the AI buildout.
Sources
- CNBC — Buffett’s July 15, 2026 interview confirming he initiated the Alphabet investment and his regret over waiting too long
- CNBC — June 1, 2026 article on Berkshire’s $10 billion private placement in Alphabet and the company’s $80 billion equity raise
- Yahoo Finance — Details on Berkshire’s total $31 billion Alphabet position and its status as the company’s third-largest equity holding
- Bloomberg — November 14, 2025 reporting on Berkshire’s initial Q3 2025 purchase of 17.9 million Alphabet shares
