Skip to main content

Warren Buffett says Apple made Berkshire more money than he ever did

When Apple CEO Tim Cook praised Warren Buffett at the weekend, it followed the billionaire investor modestly stating that Apple had made more money for his Berkshire Hathaway investment fund than he ever did through his other investment picks.

Buffett also said that while Steve Jobs was vital to the formation and early days of the company, Cook was equally vital to its growth since then …

The mutual admiration was prompted by Buffett announcing his retirement, at the age of 94. Cook said that he’s been inspired by the wisdom of the legendary investor.

“There’s never been someone like Warren, and countless people, myself included, have been inspired by his wisdom,” Cook wrote. “It’s been one of the great privileges of my life to know him. And there’s no question that Warren is leaving Berkshire in great hands with Greg.”

Yahoo! Finance quotes Buffett’s earlier remarks, made during the shareholder meeting.

“I’m somewhat embarrassed to say that Tim Cook has made Berkshire a lot more money than I’ve ever made,” Buffett told the audience, referencing the remarkable 680% surge in Apple’s stock since Berkshire first began acquiring shares in early 2016.

He also reflected on the late Steve Jobs, crediting him for building Apple, but credited Cook for turning the company into what it is today. “Nobody but Steve could have created Apple, but nobody but Tim could have developed it as he has,” he said. “Steve picked Tim to succeed him, and he really made the right decision.”

At its peak, Berkshire owned 905M AAPL shares, worth $174B – though it has since sold almost 70% of it.

Highlighted accessories

Photo by Giorgio Trovato on Unsplash

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Comments

Author

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Ben Lovejoy

Ben Lovejoy is a British technology writer and EU Editor for 9to5Mac. He’s known for his op-eds and diary pieces, exploring his experience of Apple products over time, for a more rounded review. He also writes fiction, with two technothriller novels, a couple of SF shorts and a rom-com!


Ben Lovejoy's favorite gear