When Warren Buffett assumed control of Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) (BRK.A) in 1965, the company was a struggling textile manufacturer that had not paid federal income tax for years — a fact Buffett described as “an embarrassment” for such a venerable firm. Fast forward six decades, and Berkshire Hathaway has become not only a global conglomerate but also America’s single largest corporate taxpayer. In his 2024 annual letter, Buffett revealed that the company’s cumulative federal income tax payments have now surpassed $101 billion.
This staggering sum is more than a financial milestone; it represents a direct infusion into the nation’s ability to fund essential services. To put $101 billion in perspective:
