I will be useful if there’s a panic in the market because I don’t get fearful when things go down in price or everybody else gets scared.’ — Warren Buffett, outgoing CEO, Berkshire Hathaway Warren Buffett stunned Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

Warren Buffett, the billionaire and CEO who turned what was once a failing Massachusetts textile company into a $1.2 trillion titan, announced his intention to step down by the end of the year. The news astonished investors, whom Buffett has long characterized as partners in his value investing mission.

Berkshire Hathaway revealed that it had roughly $348 billion in cash, cash equivalents, and short-term U.S. Treasuries at the end of the first quarter of 2025. That's the largest cash stockpile in the company's history.