It’s actually kind of hilarious when you think about it. Most people look at the historical price of Berkshire Hathaway stock and assume they’re looking at a typo. "Eight hundred thousand dollars for one share? That can't be right." But honestly, it is. As of early 2026, the Class A shares (BRK.A) are hovering in the $750,000 range, having flirted with the $810,000 mark back in May 2025.
You’ve probably heard the legend. Warren Buffett buys a failing textile mill, turns it into a giant, and everyone who tagged along became a millionaire. It sounds like a fairy tale. In reality, the price history of this stock is a grueling, 60-year masterclass in what happens when you simply refuse to quit.
The $7.50 Cigar Butt
In 1962, Warren Buffett wasn't the "Oracle of Omaha" yet. He was just a guy with a partnership and a keen eye for "cigar butts"—businesses that were basically dead but had one free puff of value left in them. Berkshire Hathaway was exactly that.
He started buying shares at $7.50. Think about that. You could have bought a share of the world's most successful conglomerate for the price of a mediocre burrito. By the time he actually took control in 1965, the price had crept up to about $19.
The math here is just stupid. If you had put $1,000 into the stock back then, you'd be looking at over $40 million today. But most people wouldn't have held. They would have sold when it hit $40. Or $400. Holding to $750,000 requires a level of patience that most human brains aren't wired for.
Why the Price Never "Resets"
You’re probably wondering why the price is so high. Most companies like Apple or Amazon split their stock. If a share gets too expensive, they cut it into ten pieces so it's "affordable" again.
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Buffett hates this.
He’s been very vocal about the fact that he doesn't want speculators. He wants "partners" who are in it for decades. By keeping the price of Class A shares astronomically high, he ensures that the people buying in are serious. It’s a filter. If you have to move your entire 401(k) just to buy one share, you’re probably going to read the annual report before you click "buy."
The 1996 "Baby Berkshire" Compromise
By the mid-90s, the price was hitting $30,000. It was becoming a problem because unit trusts were trying to create "mini-Berkshire" funds to sell to retail investors. Basically, they were going to charge high fees to let regular people own a slice of a share.
Buffett countered by creating Class B shares (BRK.B) in 1996.
- These started at 1/30th the price of a Class A share.
- They had 1/200th of the voting rights.
- They allowed "normal" people to get in on the action for about $1,000.
Then came 2010. Berkshire bought the BNSF railroad and needed more shares for the deal. They did a 50-for-1 split on the B shares. That’s why you can buy a Class B share today for around $500, while the Class A share requires a literal mortgage.
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The Milestones That Defied Gravity
Looking back at the timeline, the growth wasn't a straight line. It was more like a staircase that occasionally turned into a cliff.
- 1970: The stock was still under $100.
- 1982: It finally broke $1,000. People thought it was "expensive" then.
- 2006: It crossed $100,000.
- 2021: It pushed past $400,000.
- 2025: It hit an all-time closing high of $809,350 on May 2nd.
It's sorta wild to realize that from 1965 to 2023, the stock had a compound annual growth rate of roughly 19.8%. The S&P 500 did about 10.2% in that same window. That 9.6% difference doesn't sound like much until you realize that over 60 years, it’s the difference between being "comfortable" and being "the richest person in your zip code."
The Greg Abel Era and the 2026 Outlook
We’re in a weird spot now. Charlie Munger passed in 2023. Warren is 95. At the start of 2026, Greg Abel officially took over the CEO reins.
The market is nervous. You can see it in the data. In 2025, while the S&P 500 was up 16%, Berkshire’s B shares only climbed about 5.4%. There's a "Buffett Premium" that's slowly leaking out of the stock price as investors wonder if the magic continues without the man himself.
But here’s the thing: Berkshire isn't just a stock picker anymore. It’s a massive insurance, energy, and railroad machine. It’s sitting on over $330 billion in cash. If the market crashes tomorrow, Berkshire is the only company on earth with the liquid fire-power to buy everything in sight. That "downside protection" is why the price stays so resilient even during leadership transitions.
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How to Actually Use This Information
If you’re looking at the historical price of Berkshire Hathaway stock hoping to find a "pattern" to trade, you're basically doing it wrong. This isn't a momentum play.
First, decide which "version" of Berkshire you want. If you aren't a multi-millionaire, you’re buying Class B. It tracks the A shares almost perfectly, just at a different scale. One Class A share is convertible into 1,500 Class B shares.
Second, stop waiting for a "crash." People have been waiting for Berkshire to become "cheap" since the 80s. It almost never happens. Because the company generates so much cash, the "floor" of the stock price rises every single year.
Third, look at the cash pile. When Buffett (or now Abel) stops buying back Berkshire stock, it’s a signal that they think the stock is getting pricey. Conversely, when they go on a buying spree, it’s a massive neon sign saying "this is undervalued."
The historical price of Berkshire Hathaway stock isn't just a number on a screen. It's a record of what happens when you combine compound interest with extreme discipline. It’s been "too expensive" for 50 years. And yet, it keeps going up.
Actionable Insights for Investors
- Check the Price-to-Book Ratio: Historically, Buffett loved buying back shares when the price was around 1.2x book value. Use this as your "buy" signal.
- Ignore the Class A Noise: Unless you're an institutional investor, focus on BRK.B. The liquidity is better for retail traders anyway.
- Watch the "Final Letter": Buffett published his final shareholder letter in late 2025. Read it. It contains the blueprint for how Abel is expected to manage the next decade of price action.
- Think in Decades: If your investment horizon is less than five years, Berkshire might actually bore you to death. This stock is for people who want to "get rich slowly."
Go look at a chart of the S&P 500 versus Berkshire over any 20-year period. It’s not even a fair fight. The price history tells the story of a company that doesn't care about the next quarter—it only cares about the next century.