Berkshire Hathaway chairman allocates $6 billion in stock to family foundations, targeting full $138 billion stake donation by 2034.
Warren Buffett transferred $6 billion in Berkshire Hathaway shares to four family foundations this week, converting 8,000 Class A shares into 12 million Class B shares. The donations included 9 million shares to the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation and 1 million each to three other foundations led by his children.
Buffett’s remaining stake, valued at $138 billion, is slated for full distribution by December 2034. Since 2006, he has donated over $47 billion in Berkshire stock, primarily to the Gates Foundation. This year’s gifts mark a shift toward family-run philanthropies.
At current prices, the $138 billion stake equates to roughly $17 billion in annual share supply over eight years for a $1.1 trillion conglomerate. Berkshire’s repurchase program may absorb some of the outflow, mitigating market impact.