The net worth of Warren Buffett, financial genius and one of the richest men in the world: here’s how much he earns and how he became a billionaire.
How much does Warren Buffett earn? Everyone, at least once, has wanted to count the money of the American billionaire investor, a true benchmark in the financial markets for his ability to read stock market movements and thus rake in huge profits.
Warren Buffett is considered the greatest value investor of all time, becoming famous for his ability to buy undervalued companies, hold them for the long term, and then cash in once they explode.
Some examples of these investments? Coca-Cola and Apple are enough, but we should also mention giants like American Express and Geico. These insights have allowed him to become one of the richest men in the world.
Over the years, Berkshire Hathaway—acquired in 1965—has grown from a small textile company to one of the largest holding companies in history, with shares worth over $600,000 each.
In recent months, however, Buffett announced his retirement from operating activities at age 94. After more than 60 years, he remains only honorary chairman of Berkshire Hathaway and a major shareholder, but he is no longer involved in the day-to-day operations, with Greg Abel now at the helm.
Let’s take a detailed look at Warren Buffet’s net worth, and also try to understand how he became a billionaire.
Warren Buffet’s Net Worth
As mentioned, Warren Buffett has long been considered one of the richest people in the world, now a regular presence in the top ten billionaires compiled annually by Forbes.
The core of his business is the value of the shares of the holding company Berkshire Hathaway, of which he owns approximately 15%.
According to the famous American magazine, as of June 2025, Warren Buffett’s net worth would be $152.3 billion, enough to make him the sixth richest person in the world.
According to Forbes, Buffett’s net worth has increased significantly in the last year, given that in 2024 it was estimated at $133 billion.
If we then consider that in 2020—the dark year of the pandemic—his bank account was estimated at $67.5 billion, it’s clear that his investments have allowed him to more than double his wealth in the last five years.
Warren Buffett’s Earnings
There are many insights into Warren Buffett’s earnings: for example, that the tycoon owes 99% of his wealth to stock market transactions made after he turned 50, that he holds the record for consecutive positive results—outperforming other prominent investors, such as David Einhorn and Walter Schloss—or that in 2013 he pocketed a whopping $37 million a day.
But let’s take a step back: as mentioned, Warren Buffett has always been associated with the holding company Berkshire Hathaway, which he acquired in 1965 for a pittance—just $1,000 to take over—and has been listed on the NYSE since 1990. A company specializing in the textile industry, Buffett transformed it into an investment firm with interests in a variety of fields, from technology—a 5.5% stake in Apple is a highlight—to energy.
Buffett’s salary as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway has always been modest, around $100,000 a year, and has remained the same since the mid-1990s. Sure, the tycoon is known for his frugal lifestyle—he still lives in the house he purchased in 1956 in Nebraska for $31,500—but it’s clear that his salary as the holding company’s top executive represents only a marginal share of his income.
His annual earnings also account for the percentage increases in Berkshire Hathaway fund shares, which, despite the faltering pace of some key holdings, from banks to energy, continue to perform strongly on the New York Stock Exchange.
In essence, Warren Buffett became a billionaire by buying undervalued companies, reinvesting for decades, and managing Berkshire Hathaway with discipline.
He never invested in things he didn’t understand, always maintaining a prudent attitude, buying not only stocks—which he rarely sells—but also entire companies, like Geico. Thanks to the cash flow from this insurance giant, he was able to finance other investments, thus becoming a true financial legend.
Original article published on Money.it Italy. Original title: Quanto guadagna Warren Buffett? Il patrimonio dell’investitore miliardario
