At 95 years old and having officially handed over the CEO role to Greg Abel in early 2026, Warren Buffett remains deeply involved in Berkshire Hathaway's investment decisions. In an interview with Squawk Box on Tuesday, Buffett confirmed he still arrives at the office daily, calling Mark Millard, the financial assets director whose desk is just 20 feet away, to discuss markets and execute trades. 'I won't do any investment that Greg thinks is wrong,' he said, noting that Abel receives daily trade statements. The message is clear: Buffett still calls the shots on capital allocation.
A 'Tiny' New Purchase Sparks Speculation
When asked about recent moves, Buffett revealed he had made 'one tiny purchase' but declined to name the asset. Analysts suggest it could be a defensive bet on undervalued names amid geopolitical uncertainty. Given Berkshire's cash pile of over $370 billion, even a 'tiny' acquisition might involve significant capital.
Market Pullback? 'I've Seen 50% Drops Three Times'
Regarding the recent volatility triggered by Middle East tensions and inflation concerns, Buffett was dismissive. 'Since I took over Berkshire, the market has fallen more than 50% at least three times... This minor fluctuation is nothing to get excited about,' he said. This reaffirms his 'be greedy when others are fearful' mantra, but current fear levels are not yet attractive enough for him to deploy his mountain of cash.
$370 Billion Cash Mountain, Adding T-Bills Weekly
While waiting for a 'sale,' Buffett prefers collecting interest. He disclosed that Berkshire purchased another $17 billion in Treasury bills at auction this week. As of the end of 2025, Berkshire's cash and equivalents exceeded $370 billion, mostly parked in short-term T-bills yielding nearly 5%. This unprecedented cash hoard gives Berkshire immense firepower for future market dislocations.