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Berkshire Hathaway’s reported sale of nearly half its Apple stake was a major reduction, but the evidence here does not establish the exact number of shares sold, the proceeds, or Warren Buffett’s reason. It is also a separate event from Berkshire’s earlier first-quarter 2024 sale, which cut the position by about 13%.
What happened to Berkshire’s Apple stake?
Berkshire had already trimmed its Apple position in the first quarter of 2024. The Associated Press reported that the company sold a little over 116 million shares—about 13% of its stake—and held nearly 790 million shares at quarter-end. Associated Press report
A later, much larger reduction—described as nearly half—was reported after the second quarter of 2024. That should not be conflated with the first-quarter sale: the figures above describe the earlier transaction, not the later one. The material available here does not establish the later sale’s exact share count or proceeds.
Why did Buffett sell?
Buffett discussed the first-quarter reduction at Berkshire’s May 2024 annual meeting. CNBC’s page for the meeting describes him as saying that the prospect of a higher future capital-gains tax rate contributed to the decision to sell about 13% of the Apple holding. CNBC annual-meeting page
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That explanation applies to the earlier trim. It is not confirmed here as the reason for the later near-half reduction. Without a verified explanation tied to that later sale, attributing it to taxes—or to any other specific motive—would go beyond what the reporting establishes.
How many Apple shares does Berkshire still own?
The nearly 790 million shares figure is Berkshire’s reported position at the end of the first quarter of 2024, before the later reduction. It is not a current share count. A quarterly securities filing reports holdings on a specific date and becomes public after the quarter ends; it does not provide a live view of trading.
Berkshire’s official report index links to its annual report and Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, while the SEC filing index identifies that reporting period. Those company-wide reports do not by themselves establish a real-time Apple position. Berkshire Hathaway reports · SEC company filings
The SEC search index also identifies a Berkshire first-quarter 2026 Form 13F covering holdings as of March 31, 2026. That is another dated snapshot, not a current position; a precise Apple share count should be taken from the filing’s information table and stated with its reporting date and filing date. SEC filing search
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No full exit is established by the reported first-quarter 2024 sale: Berkshire still held nearly 790 million shares afterward. That fact does not determine how many shares remained after the later near-half reduction, nor does it establish Buffett’s intentions after that event.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to read the two sales without mixing them up
| Sale | Reported reduction | Reported shares remaining | What Buffett said |
|---|---|---|---|
| First quarter of 2024 | A little over 116 million shares, about 13% of the position, according to the Associated Press | Nearly 790 million at quarter-end, according to the Associated Press | At the May 2024 annual meeting, he discussed the prospect of a higher future capital-gains tax rate as a factor in this sale |
| Later reduction reported after the second quarter of 2024 | Described as nearly half; exact share count and proceeds are not established here | Not established here | No confirmed reason for this later reduction is established here |
The comparison is useful only when the reporting periods stay attached to the figures. Dollar values also depend on Apple’s share price and the valuation date, so they should not be compared as if they were fixed measures of how much Berkshire sold.
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