Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Now Earns $138 Every Second From Dividends

In an era dominated by algorithmic trading, speculative bubbles, and high-frequency investing, Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B)(BRK.A) continues to quietly prove the timeless power of patience and quality. As of 2025, the company is poised to earn a staggering $4.37 billion in annual dividend income — the result of decades of strategic capital allocation, brand loyalty, and long-term conviction. That figure alone translates to $364 million per month, nearly $12 million per day, $498,800 per hour, and a mind-boggling $138.63 every second, all without selling a single share.

This river of passive income flows largely from a select group of high-quality, dividend-paying companies — many of which Buffett and his team have held for years, or even decades. At the core of this strategy are household names like Coca-Cola (KO), Apple (AAPL), Bank of America (BAC), and Chevron (CVX), which together generate well over half of the portfolio’s total dividend income. Coca-Cola leads the pack with an estimated $816 million in 2025 dividends. Chevron follows closely with $810.6 million, and Bank of America is expected to contribute $707 million. Kraft Heinz (KHC), American Express (AXP), and Apple (AAPL) are each poised to deliver between $300 million and $520 million.

While these numbers are extraordinary on their own, what’s really remarkable is the structure behind them. Berkshire’s approach is not built on yield-chasing or short-term momentum plays, but on the foundational belief in “economic moats” — his expression for the durable competitive advantages that allow companies to fend off competition and maintain pricing power over time. Buffett has long favored companies with strong brands, recurring revenues, and pricing discipline. Apple’s ecosystem loyalty, Coca-Cola’s global distribution dominance, and American Express’s premium user base all exemplify this philosophy.

Even Berkshire’s lesser-known dividend holdings underscore the same logic. Occidental Petroleum (OXY), a more recent addition, contributes nearly $159 million annually. Moody’s (MCO) and Chubb Limited (CB) add another $93 million and $154 million, respectively, reflecting Buffett’s confidence in long-term stability over speculative growth. Meanwhile, companies like Verizon (VZ), U.S. Bancorp (USB), and Verisign (VRSN) round out the list with solid, dependable cash flows — contributing tens of millions each to the company’s bottom line.

This passive cash engine does more than pad Berkshire’s income statement; it gives Buffett optionality. Dividends received can be redeployed into new investments, stock buybacks, debt repayments, or simply held as cash reserves — all without shrinking Berkshire’s ownership in the underlying businesses. This is a strategic advantage that few investors truly understand: the ability to grow liquidity without sacrificing future upside. It also enables Berkshire to weather bear markets with ease by capitalizing on downturns when others are forced to sell.

Buffett’s strategy has always emphasized the long game. His famous quote — “Our favorite holding period is forever” — isn’t just a slogan, but an operating principle. While many market participants pivot from trend to trend, Berkshire continues to demonstrate that patient capital not only survives, it thrives. It’s a strategy that favors dividends not as a crutch, but as a signal of financial health, management discipline, and long-term alignment with shareholders.

There’s also a philosophical component to this approach. Buffett has often emphasized the importance of letting great businesses do the work for you. The $4.37 billion in annual dividends Berkshire receives is a reflection of past decisions — many of which were made decades ago. Now, every dollar Berkshire earns in dividends is the compounded result of trust in business fundamentals over flashy trends.

For individual investors, Berkshire Hathaway’s dividend stream serves as a powerful reminder that wealth can be quietly — and steadily — built through ownership in great businesses. You don’t need to swing for the fences to win big. Sometimes, the best strategy is to buy right, sit tight, and let time and dividends do the rest.

So while Wall Street buzzes with the latest IPOs, AI narratives, and crypto cycles, Warren Buffett is content collecting $138.63 every second, proving once again that the most powerful force in investing may just be consistency.