In a revealing CNBC interview, Warren Buffett confirmed he personally initiated Berkshire Hathaway’s substantial $30 billion investment in Alphabet, a move that surprised many given his historical reluctance towards tech stocks. He also announced a significant shift in his philanthropic strategy, ending future donations to the Gates Foundation and accelerating the distribution of his Berkshire shares to his children’s foundations by 2034, citing their proven capability in philanthropy.
In a candid, nearly hour-long interview with CNBC's Becky Quick, Warren Buffett disclosed two significant shifts in his investment and philanthropic strategies. The Oracle of Omaha confirmed he personally initiated Berkshire Hathaway’s substantial investment in Google-parent Alphabet and announced he is redirecting future donations away from the Gates Foundation towards his family's charitable organizations.
David A. Grogan | CNBC
Buffett Clarifies Gates-Epstein Ties and Philanthropic Shift
Buffett addressed Bill Gates’ connections to Jeffrey Epstein, calling them 'distasteful' but emphasized that this was not the primary reason for his decision to cease future contributions to the Gates Foundation. Instead, Buffett explained that his three children have demonstrated their capability to responsibly manage and distribute 'vast sums of money' through their own foundations. He cited their efficiency in giving, avoiding large overheads or extravagant conferences, as a key factor in his renewed confidence in their philanthropic abilities.
Over two decades, Buffett had donated nearly $48 billion in Berkshire shares to the Gates Foundation. Concurrently, he also contributed almost $18 billion to the Sherwood Foundation (Susie Buffett), Howard G. Buffett Foundation, Peter Buffett's NoVo Foundation, and the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation (named for his late first wife).
Buffett revealed he recently met with Bill Gates in Omaha, where they discussed the decision. Gates was reportedly 'OK' with the change, acknowledging their 'wonderful friendship' and Buffett's significant philanthropic impact.
CNBC
Accelerating Philanthropic Pace
Beyond the shift in recipients, Buffett is accelerating the timeline for his charitable giving. His updated plan aims to distribute all his Berkshire shares within approximately eight years, by the end of 2034. This expedited pace is partly attributed to his children, who are 'unfortunately growing older,' and his confidence in Greg Abel's leadership at Berkshire Hathaway, reducing the need for his or his family's continued voting control over the company.
Buffett Took the Lead on Alphabet Investment
One of the most surprising revelations was Buffett's disclosure that he, not CEO Greg Abel, 'initiated' Berkshire's now $30 billion position in Alphabet (GOOGL). This contradicts prior assumptions that the investment was Abel's first major move, given Buffett's traditional avoidance of tech stocks. While he noted Alphabet's substantial spending on AI infrastructure, he believes the company is 'more likely to be a winner' than 90-95% of what's marketed on Wall Street. Buffett also reiterated his regret for not investing in Google earlier, calling it a 'mistake.'
Continued Bullishness on Apple and Broader Market Views
Despite Tim Cook's impending departure as CEO of Apple (AAPL), Berkshire's largest equity holding at $76 billion, Buffett remains optimistic about the iPhone maker. He acknowledged the challenge of replacing Cook but reaffirmed his confidence in Apple's fundamentals.
Buffett also offered his assessment of incoming Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh, calling him a 'good choice' and expressing confidence in Warsh's commitment to the Fed's dual mandate of 2% inflation and maximum employment.
He continued to voice his concerns about excessive 'gambling' in financial markets, stating, 'It's tough to find values when everybody is preferring gambling,' and criticized Wall Street for cultivating gamblers over investors.
On a personal note, Buffett shared that he recently 'broke a leg,' his first such injury. Finally, the article noted that Berkshire Hathaway appears to have significantly ramped up its share repurchases in Q2 2026, with estimates ranging from $5 billion to $11 billion, a considerable increase from Q1's $234 million.
Berkshire Stock Watch & Top Equity Holdings
The article concludes with a detailed 'Berkshire Stock Watch' providing current Class A and B stock prices, P/E ratio, market capitalization, and cash positions as of March 31, 2026. It also lists Berkshire's top equity holdings as of July 17, 2026, which include Apple, Alphabet (Class A and C combined), American Express, Coca-Cola, and Bank of America, among others, based on the latest closing prices and 13F filings.
