Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Earns $93,150 Every Hour from Coca-Cola Dividends Alone

Image of Warren Buffett by Rokas Tenys via Shutterstock Warren Buffett, the legendary investor who currently serves as chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) (BRK.A), has built a fortune on bold, long-term bets. Among his most iconic and profitable investments is his decades-long ownership of Coca-Cola (KO) stock. The quarterly dividend checks flowing from this one holding have become the stuff of financial legend. But just how much does Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway make from Coca-Cola dividends every single hour?

The Numbers: Over $93,000 Every Hour

Currently, Berkshire Hathaway owns 400 million shares of The Coca-Cola Company. According to their latest numbers, Coca-Cola is paying an annual dividend of $2.04 per share, paid out on a quarterly basis. That means Coca-Cola sends Berkshire roughly $816 million every year in dividends — without Buffett having to lift a finger.

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Breaking it down even further:

• Per Year: $816,000,000
• Per Day: $2,235,616
• Per Hour: $93,150

This staggering sum means Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway earns more every hour in dividends from just one stock investment than the majority of Americans earn every year.

The Backstory: Buffett’s Coca-Cola Stock Acquisition

Buffett’s love affair with Coca-Cola began in 1988. Reeling in the aftermath of the 1987 market crash, Buffett identified the company as a classic value opportunity — a dominant brand with global reach, steady profits, and the ability to weather economic storms.

Between 1988 and 1994, Berkshire Hathaway steadily accumulated approximately 400 million shares at a total cost of about $1.3 billion, a position that amounted to over 7% of Coca-Cola’s outstanding stock at the time. Berkshire has never sold a single share. That $1.3 billion investment is worth tens of billions today, not to mention the cash earned through decades of rising dividends.

Why Buffett Loves Coca-Cola

Buffett’s rationale for buying — and holding — Coca-Cola stock reads like an investing masterclass:

• Durable Brand “Moat”: Coca-Cola’s global presence and brand loyalty make it nearly impossible to displace. Buffett once quipped: “If you gave me $100 billion and said ‘take away the soft drink leadership of Coca-Cola in the world,’ I’d give it back to you and say it can't be done.”
• Consistent Profits & Dividends: Coca-Cola has increased its annual dividend for over 60 consecutive years, making it a “dividend king.” This perpetual stream of growing income is precisely the kind of reliable return Buffett covets.
• Simplicity and Predictability: Buffett favors businesses he can easily understand, with products that are universally in demand regardless of economic cycles.
• Shareholder Friendly Management: When Buffett invested, Coca-Cola’s leadership was focused on profitability, share buybacks, and steady dividend increases — a combination that signaled alignment with long-term investors.

Story Continues## A Model for Patient Wealth Creation

Berkshire Hathaway’s Coke stake has been a symbol of Buffett’s investment philosophy: buy outstanding businesses at fair prices, then let time and compounding work their magic. Through market booms, busts, and the ever-evolving business landscape, Coca-Cola’s checks have rolled in, providing a living example of the power of holding great companies for decades.

What started as a $1.3 billion bet is now one of the most effective dividend cash machines in history. As of 2025, Warren Buffett is earning more than $93,000 every single hour from Coca-Cola alone — a testament to discipline, patience, and the timeless allure of a cold Coke.

On the date of publication, Caleb Naysmith did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com

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