Warren Buffett "Pocketed" an Additional 11.5 Billion USD While the Market "Disappeared" Thousands of Billions

While many billionaires around the world saw their fortunes evaporate by tens of billions of USD due to the trade crisis, Warren Buffett – the investment legend – still earned an additional 11.5 billion USD in just the first 15 weeks of 2025. Assets increase despite the tumultuous market According to Bloomberg, Buffett’s net worth currently stands at 153.5 billion USD, a significant increase amid the global market decline due to tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. In just two days after the news about the tax policy, the top 500 billionaires lost more than 500 billion USD, including Elon Musk who lost up to 134 billion USD, bringing his assets down to around 297 billion USD.

Why is Buffett “immune” to the financial storm? Unlike many other investors, Buffett chose a “smart defensive” approach, steering clear of large deals during sensitive times and reducing his stake in Apple and Bank of America, two names heavily impacted by the wave of tariffs. Mr. Berkshire Hathaway’s group has only decreased by 8.8% since the beginning of April, lower than the 10.7% drop of the S&P 500 index. Reason? Buffett’s investment portfolio is focused on insurance and real estate, which are less affected by trade tensions. Among the top 20 richest people in the world, only two have increased their wealth to date: Warren Buffett: +11.5 billion USD Francoise Bettencourt Meyers ( L’Oreal ): +1.8 billion USD