‘Apple CEO Tim Cook dinner made extra money for Berkshire Hathaway than I ever did’: Warren Buffett

Berkshire Hathaway annual shareholder assembly 2025: Ace investor Warren Buffett presided over his sixtieth Berkshire Hathaway shareholder assembly on Saturday, Might 3, and spoke on a variety of matters, together with commerce insurance policies and funding alternatives for the multinational conglomerate. Buffett was joined on stage by Berkshire’s prime executives, Greg Abel and Ajit Jain.

The chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, also called the ‘Oracle of Omaha,’ made the feedback after the conglomerate posted a decrease working revenue within the first quarter, dented by insurance coverage losses from wildfires and overseas foreign money modifications. In the meantime, its money stake grew to a document $347.7 billion.

Working revenue for the Omaha, Nebraska-based conglomerate dropped 14 per cent to $9.64 billion, or about $6,703 per Class A share, from $11.22 billion a 12 months earlier. Web earnings was down 64 per cent to $4.6 billion, or $3,200 per Class A share, from $12.7 billion, reflecting unrealised losses on widespread inventory holdings, together with Apple. Let’s catch Buffett’s prime 10 quotes from the annual assembly.

Warren Buffett’s prime 10 quotes from Berkshire Hathaway’s annual assembly:

1.“Apple CEO Tim Cook dinner made extra money for Berkshire Hathaway than I ever did”

-Buffett initially took a lighthearted tone as he thanked Apple CEO Tim Cook dinner. He stated that following Apple’s newest earnings launch, he tuned into Cook dinner’s name on Thursday afternoon, the “solely funding quarterly name” that he listened to. “I’m considerably embarrassed to say that Tim Cook dinner has made Berkshire much more cash than I’ve ever made Berkshire Hathaway,” Buffett joked. “Credit score ought to be given to him.”

2.“Commerce shouldn’t be a weapon”

-Buffett criticised the thought of tariffs and commerce protectionism, saying that “commerce shouldn’t be a weapon. Within the US, we ought to be trying to commerce with the remainder of the world. We must always do what we do greatest, and they need to do what they do greatest,” Buffett stated. US President Donald Trump was indirectly referenced.

“I do not suppose it is a good suggestion to design a world the place a couple of nations say, ha ha ha, we have received,” Buffett added. “I do suppose that the extra affluent the remainder of the world turns into … the extra affluent we’ll grow to be.”

3.“The luckiest day of my life was being born within the US”

-Buffett appeared assured about US exceptionalism. “We’ve gone by means of nice recessions, world wars, the event of an atomic bomb that we by no means dreamt of on the time I used to be born, so I might not get discouraged about the truth that it doesn’t appear like we’ve solved each downside that’s come alongside,” he stated

“If I have been being born in the present day, I might simply hold negotiating within the womb till they stated you will be within the US. We’re all fairly fortunate,” he careworn. That is regardless of his criticisms of the present commerce coverage earlier within the session.”

4.“We’re working a enterprise which could be very, very, very opportunistic.”

-Buffett revealed that Berkshire nearly put $10 billion at work lately, however finally didn’t execute it. “We got here fairly near spending $10 billion not that way back. We might spend $100 billion. The one downside with the funding enterprise is that issues do not come alongside in an orderly vogue they usually by no means will. We’re working a enterprise which could be very, very, very opportunistic.”

5.“US inventory market volatility within the final 30, 45 days is absolutely nothing”

-“What has occurred within the final 30, 45 days … is absolutely nothing,” stated Buffett, noting Berkshire Hathaway’s inventory was reduce in half thrice throughout his 60 years working the corporate. On condition that, he stated the US inventory market’s latest motion shouldn’t be thought of a “large” transfer.

“This has not been a dramatic bear market or something of the kind,” stated Buffett. The S&P 500 practically closed in a 20 per cent bear market at its low in April earlier than Trump paused his tariffs on nations, inflicting a rebound. On the final verify, the S&P 500 was down about eight per cent from its document excessive.

6.“A cheerful particular person lives longer…work at one thing you get pleasure from”

-When giving recommendation to a younger investor, Buffett stated that discovering a strategy to be fulfilled and pleased helps folks have lengthy lives. I feel a contented particular person lives longer than any individual who’s performing some issues they don’t actually admire a lot in life,” Buffett stated.

When answering a query in regards to the plan for successor Greg Abel, Buffett gave recommendation about selecting a job and launching a profession. “You actually wish to work at one thing you get pleasure from,” Buffett stated throughout Saturday’s gathering.

7.“If you happen to discover great folks to work with”

-Buffett cautioned that workers can tackle the habits of their colleagues, so it’s vital to be discerning about the place one works. He really helpful that whereas folks ought to be “cautious” about who they’re employed by, it’s much less vital to stress about components like beginning salaries. “If you happen to discover people who find themselves great to work with, that’s the place to go,” he stated.

8.“Actual property not essentially the most attention-grabbing factor “

-“Within the US, there’s a lot extra alternative that presents itself within the safety market, than… in actual property. And in actual property you are coping with … normally … a single proprietor or a household that owns perhaps a big property. They’ve had a very long time, perhaps they’ve borrowed an excessive amount of … cash towards it.”

“Perhaps the inhabitants tendencies are towards them. However to them, it is an infinite choice… For a man of 94, it is not essentially the most attention-grabbing factor to get entangled in one thing the place the negotiations may take years,” stated Buffett.

9.“Fiscal coverage scares me”

-When requested about foreign money concerns, Buffett stated he was involved in regards to the tendency of governments to make selections that result in weaker currencies. “Fiscal coverage is what scares me in the USA, as a result of it’s made the way in which it’s, and all of the motivations are to do lots of issues that may trigger hassle with cash. However that’s not restricted to the US, it’s everywhere in the world,” Buffett stated. “The worth of foreign money is a scary factor, and we don’t have any nice system for beating that,” he added.