Warren Buffett has announced a goal to dispose of all his Berkshire Hathaway shares within approximately eight years, setting a hard deadline of December 31, 2034. The plan was revealed in a statement accompanying his latest multi-billion dollar charitable donation. On July 14, Buffett converted 8,000 Class A shares into 12 million Class B shares for distribution to four family foundations.
This move accelerates his long-standing pledge to give away over 99% of his wealth to philanthropy. The donations from his remaining shares will be directed to the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation and three foundations run by his children. While Buffett noted mortality is unpredictable, he stated his remaining shares would be donated to the four foundations "one way or the other" by the 2034 date, providing new clarity on the timeline for one of the largest wealth transfers in history.