If you invested $1,000 in Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway 10 years ago, here’s how much you’d have now

Warren Buffett, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, at the company’s annual shareholders meeting in 2019.

With decades of market-beating returns and a reputation for steady, disciplined management, Berkshire Hathaway is a long-standing favorite among investors.

Now, with 94-year-old CEO Warren Buffett announcing his retirement at the end of the year, the company is preparing for a major transition — marking the end of an era for one of the most admired leaders in American business.

Since Buffett took over in 1965, Berkshire has grown from a failing textile manufacturer into a $1.2 trillion conglomerate by acquiring what its CEO calls “wonderful businesses at fair prices” with strong long-term value. Berkshire owns a wide array of companies in industries ranging from railroads and insurance to ice cream and batteries.

Under Buffett’s leadership, the company’s stock has delivered an astronomical 5,502,284% gain, as of 2025 — compared with about 39,054% for the S&P 500 — according to the company’s most recent annual report.

Berkshire Hathaway shares have mostly outperformed the S&P 500 over just the last 20 years, too.

The company reported first-quarter operating earnings of $9.64 billion on Saturday, down 14% from a year earlier. Its stock underperformed expectations due largely to a decline in insurance underwriting profit, CNBC reported on Saturday.

Berkshire has two classes of stock: Class A and Class B. Class A shares are far more expensive and carry greater voting power. Class B shares are more accessible and widely held by individual investors. Earnings per Class B share came in at $4.47, below a consensus forecast of $4.72, according to FactSet estimates.

Comparing Berkshire Hathaway’s returns over time

Here’s how much a $1,000 investment in Berkshire Hathaway would be worth today, depending on when that investment was made — based on its May 8 closing price for Class B shares.

If you invested one year ago:

Percentage change: 26.3%
Total: $1,263

If you invested 10 years ago:

Percentage change: 246.1%
Total: $3,461

If you invested 20 years ago:

Percentage change: 817.8%
Total: $9,178

Berkshire Hathaway has consistently outperformed the stock market, but financial experts generally recommend diversifying your investments and avoiding putting too much money into any one stock. Broad-based index funds tend to offer more consistent returns and lower fees than picking individual companies, financial planners say.

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