Is Berkshire Hathaway Still Underwater on Its UnitedHealth Bet? A 2025 Deep Dive

• UnitedHealth's Rollercoaster: Is Buffett in the Red?
• Kraft Heinz Split: Buffett's Unhappy Meal
• Forbes 400 Fall: When $150 Billion Isn't Enough
• Buffett Sightings: Squawk Box Turns 30
• Q&A: Your Burning Berkshire Questions Answered

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway made waves in August 2025 when it revealed a 5-million-share UnitedHealth position. While the stock has rebounded 30% since disclosure, our analysis suggests Buffett might still be swimming with the fishes on this trade. We'll break down the math, examine Kraft Heinz's messy divorce, and unpack why Buffett dropped four spots on the Forbes 400 despite steady net worth. Grab your calculators - this is financial detective work at its most intriguing.

UnitedHealth's Rollercoaster: Is Buffett in the Red?

Let's crunch the numbers. Berkshire scooped up UnitedHealth shares between April and June 2025, but the exact entry points remain shrouded in SEC filing mystery. Here's what we know:

• Worst-case scenario: If Buffett bought near Q2's peak of $606.36, that $3.1 billion position would be drowning 42% underwater
• Best-case scenario: Purchases at the quarter's low of $248.88 would now show a tasty 42% gain
• Probable reality: Using Q2's average close, Berkshire's $1.9 billion stake sits about 8% underwater at Friday's $352.51 close

Morgan Stanley's Erin Wright clearly smells blood in the water, upping her price target to $395 after cozying up to management. "We're incrementally positive following discussions with UNH where it had conviction in the turnaround," she told clients. Even Jim Cramer, who typically avoids stocks under regulatory scrutiny, admitted on CNBC's Lightning Round that "some people seem to know the worst is over."

Kraft Heinz Split: Buffett's Unhappy Meal

While UnitedHealth shows glimmers of hope, Berkshire's kitchen is on fire. Kraft Heinz shares got microwaved for a 6.25% loss over two weeks as the company pushes forward with its split plan - the very same plan Buffett publicly trashed. In a rare outburst, the Oracle told CNBC he's "disappointed" the company moved ahead despite his opposition.

Gordon Haskett's Don Bilson spelled out the real nightmare scenario: "Beyond worries about the plan itself, investors must grapple with Buffett potentially dumping his stock." With Berkshire owning over 10%, any sale WOULD trigger immediate SEC filings. Talk about adding insult to injury.

Forbes 400 Fall: When $150 Billion Isn't Enough

In a twist that proves even billionaires aren't immune to FOMO, Buffett slipped from #5 to #9 on the 2025 Forbes 400 despite maintaining his $150 billion net worth. The culprit? His relentless philanthropy:

Here's the kicker: Without these donations, Buffett's net worth would be roughly $350 billion today - neck-and-neck with Oracle's Larry Ellison ($352 billion after stellar earnings) and just behind Elon Musk's $463 billion. Makes you wonder if Warren ever stares at his checkbook and mutters "what if?"

Buffett Sightings: Squawk Box Turns 30

In lighter news, Buffett made a rare New York appearance for CNBC's Squawk Box 30th anniversary bash. Jim Cramer - never one to hide his fanboy tendencies - posted a selfie with his "lifelong idol," captioning it: "The only place you can meet your lifelong idol is at the 30th birthday party of @SquawkCNBC!!!!"

Source: Twitter/@jimcramer

Q&A: Your Burning Berkshire Questions Answered

Is Berkshire definitely losing money on UnitedHealth?

Our analysis suggests there's a strong possibility, but we won't know for certain until November's 13F filing reveals exact purchase prices. The stock's 30% YTD drop doesn't help.

Why did Buffett oppose the Kraft Heinz split?

He masterminded the 2015 merger and clearly believes in the combined entity's potential. When Warren Buffett thinks you're making a mistake, it's worth paying attention.

How did Larry Ellison leapfrog Buffett in net worth?

Oracle's explosive earnings added $100 billion to Ellison's fortune literally the day after Forbes' cutoff. Timing is everything in the billionaire rankings game.