Berkshire Adds $10 Billion to Alphabet, Lifting Stake to Nearly $31 Billion
Updated
Updated · Business Insider · Jul 18
Berkshire Adds $10 Billion to Alphabet, Lifting Stake to Nearly $31 Billion
3 articles · Updated · Business Insider · Jul 18
Summary
$10 billion of new June funding took Berkshire Hathaway’s Alphabet bet to nearly $31 billion, making it the conglomerate’s third-largest stock holding after Apple and American Express.
58 million shares amassed through March 31 were worth about $20.5 billion at current prices, and the private placement pushed Alphabet past Coca-Cola in Berkshire’s portfolio.
Buffett disclosed the investment while warning that markets favor speculation and that AI infrastructure spending by hyperscalers involves “real money” that could strain cash flows and force outside fundraising.
That tension has puzzled some Buffett followers because Berkshire held a record $380 billion cash pile at the end of March, yet Buffett said Alphabet looks more likely to be a winner than most AI plays sold on Wall Street.
Buffett warns of an AI 'gambling' culture, so why did his firm just place a $31 billion bet on Alphabet?
With AI spending consuming over 90% of cash flow, is the tech industry creating a massive debt bubble set to pop?
Berkshire Hathaway’s $10 Billion Bet: How Alphabet’s Record $84.75 Billion AI Capital Raise Is Reshaping Tech Investment and Buffett’s Portfolio
Overview
As of July 2026, Berkshire Hathaway holds a significant investment in Alphabet, even as Warren Buffett voices caution about the company's future. Buffett is concerned about the enormous capital commitments required to compete in artificial intelligence, noting that Alphabet and its rivals are spending hundreds of billions of dollars in this technological arms race. This massive expenditure is a key reason for his reservations, making him prefer other Berkshire businesses over Alphabet. The capital intensity of the AI sector stands out as a major challenge, shaping both Buffett's outlook and Berkshire's evolving investment strategy.