When Berkshire Hathaway first bought shares of Alphabet last year, the investing world buzzed with speculation about who was really behind the move. Warren Buffett had spent decades steering clear of technology stocks, so plenty of analysts assumed the decision came from his trusted investment lieutenants, Todd Combs and Ted Weschler. That theory made sense at the time, since the pair had previously been responsible for Berkshire’s massive bet on Apple, which went on to become the conglomerate’s largest holding by a wide margin.
Others pointed to Greg Abel, who took over as CEO after Buffett stepped down at the end of 2025, especially after Berkshire dramatically expanded its Alphabet position this year through additional open-market purchases and a private placement that funneled another $10 billion into the stock. The thinking was that Abel wanted to put his own stamp on the portfolio now that he was firmly in charge. But all of that guessing game came to a halt when Buffett sat down for a recent interview with CNBC and offered three simple words that settled the debate once and for all. He said plainly, “I initiated it.”
That admission carries real weight for anyone holding Alphabet shares today. Buffett’s entire approach to investing is built around identifying great businesses and owning them for years, sometimes decades, and he has famously said his favorite holding period is forever. The fact that he personally chose to break his long-standing hesitation toward tech companies and build a position in Alphabet signals genuine conviction in the company’s ability to compound wealth over time. He even admitted during the same interview that his only regret was not buying the stock sooner.
Alphabet’s business certainly backs up that confidence. The company remains dominant across search and digital advertising while simultaneously establishing itself as a leader in cloud computing and artificial intelligence, two areas still in their early innings of growth. Beyond those core operations, Alphabet is pursuing ambitious ventures like robotaxis that could unlock entirely new revenue streams down the road. Layered on top of all that is a formidable competitive moat built on network effects, high switching costs, and one of the most recognized brand names on the planet. For investors wondering whether the Oracle of Omaha’s endorsement is worth following, the fundamentals suggest this is one bet where backing him makes a lot of sense.