Warren Buffett praises Apple CEO Tim Cook for making more money for Berkshire Hathaway than he ever did

By Phong Ngo May 5, 2025 | 07:44 pm PT

Billionaire investor Warren Buffett has lauded Apple CEO Tim Cook for his remarkable leadership and the substantial financial gains the tech titan has delivered to Buffett’s company, Berkshire Hathaway.

Buffett, speaking at Berkshire Hathaway’s annual meeting on May 5, expressed admiration for Cook's leadership, as reported by Business Insider. "I’m somewhat embarrassed to say that Tim Cook has made Berkshire a lot more money than I’ve ever made [for] Berkshire Hathaway," he stated.

He also compared Cook favorably to Apple’s iconic co-founder, Steve Jobs. "I knew Steve Jobs briefly, and Steve, of course, did things that nobody else could have done in developing Apple," said Buffett. "Steve picked Tim to succeed him, and he really made the right decision", he added.

"Nobody but Steve could have created Apple, but nobody but Tim could have developed it as he has. So on behalf of all of Berkshire, thank you, Tim."

Berkshire’s investment in Apple, which ranged from $35 billion between 2016 and 2018, grew to $173 billion by the end of 2023. However, in the first nine months of 2024, Berkshire reduced its stake by selling approximately 67% of its Apple shares.

Warren Buffet and Tim Cook (L). Photo courtesy of Tim Cook's X

Buffett, who announced plans to step down from his role as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway by the end of 2025, has earned billions through investments in Apple. Berkshire Hathaway’s decision to invest in Apple marked a rare departure from Buffett’s historical reluctance to invest in tech companies. He viewed Apple not as a tech company, but as a consumer goods company, selling products that everyone loved, according to Fortune.

Cook, who became CEO of Apple in 2011, owns more than 3 million shares of the company, representing less than 1% of its total shares. As of May 6, 2025, Cook's net worth is estimated at US$2.4 billion, according to Forbes.

Buffett, with a fortune of $160.1 billion, has pledged to donate more than 99% of his wealth. To date, he has donated approximately $62 billion, primarily through the Gates Foundation and other charitable causes. In 2010, Buffett and Bill Gates launched the Giving Pledge, urging other billionaires to commit to donating at least half of their wealth to charitable causes.