Archive · 26 Jan 2026
Berkshire Hathaway's Silver Investment: A Missed Opportunity
Berkshire Hathaway, led by Warren Buffett, once bought a lot of silver in 1997 and 1998 when it was $5 an ounce.
They sold it within ten years, making a profit.
If they had kept it, it would be worth about $13 billion now because silver is at $100 an ounce.
Buffett has been interested in silver for a long time and made a similar investment in the 1960s.
He sold the silver because he's not good at predicting how high a speculative boom will go.
Berkshire also had other investments like oil and bonds.
Buffett saw that silver demand was higher than supply, which is similar to why people are buying silver now.
Berkshire Hathaway purchased 129.7 million ounces of silver in 1997-1998 at $5 per ounce.
The company sold its silver investment within a decade, making an unspecified profit.
If held, the silver would now be worth approximately $13 billion with silver trading at $100 an ounce.
Silver has tripled in price over the past year, including a 40% gain in 2026.
Buffett has a long history of investing in silver, including a successful investment in the 1960s.
- Who
- Berkshire Hathaway, led by Warren Buffett
- What
- Sold a significant silver investment
- When
- Within a decade of purchasing in 1997-1998
- Where
- Global market
- Why
- Buffett's strategy to avoid speculative market timing
- Company
- Berkshire Hathaway
- Chairman
- Warren Buffett
- Silver Purchase
- 129.7 million ounces
- Purchase Period
- 1997-1998
- Purchase Price
- $5 per ounce
- Current Silver Price
- $100 per ounce
- Potential Current Value
- $13 billion
- Silver Price Increase
- Tripled in the past year, 40% gain in 2026