Buffett Orchestrates Berkshire's $30B Alphabet Stake, Keeping Influence After Chair Transition

Warren Buffett personally initiated Berkshire Hathaway's $30 billion investment in Alphabet, signaling he still makes major investment calls even after retiring as CEO and stepping back as chairman. He says the call came from him, but his successor Greg Abel approved it, and the two remain aligned, with Buffett acting as a guiding adviser rather than day-to-day leader. The move underscores Buffett’s continued influence under Abel and Berkshire’s readiness to deploy its cash—nearly $400 billion—while Abel forges his own leadership, as seen with acquisitions like Taylor Morrison Home.