Buffett Bares Mistakes in Alphabet and Apple Bets

Warren Buffett is known for his exceptional investment skills and long-term success in managing Berkshire Hathaway. However, even he admits to making mistakes in stock bets. In a recent interview, the 95-year-old investor confessed that he bought Alphabet's parent company too late, although it was not among his favorite picks.

Buffett led Berkshire Hathaway's investment in Alphabet but did so later than expected. He explained that he didn't understand how tech companies like Google made their money and whether they would continue to do so. This decision cost Berkshire investors a significant amount of money, according to Buffett.

On the other hand, Apple remains one of Buffett's top picks. He first invested in Apple shares in 2016, and it has grown into Berkshire Hathaway's single biggest position, accounting for nearly 22% of its roughly $263 billion equity portfolio.

Buffett expressed regret over selling Apple too soon, stating that he would have bought more if given the chance. He joked that outgoing CEO Tim Cook made more money for Berkshire Hathaway's shareholders than he ever did as CEO of Apple. Although Buffett sold a significant portion of Berkshire's Apple holding, it still constitutes the company's largest holding.

Berkshire invested about $35 billion in Apple between 2016 and 2018. This investment surged to around $185 billion before tax, including dividends and gains, as reported by Business Insider.