In 2025 the world of billionaires has been shaken up. President Donald Trump’s new tariffs have caused a massive storm in the stock market leading to huge losses for some of the richest people on the planet. Big names like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg have seen billions of dollars vanish from their fortunes this year. But theres one American billionaire who stands out from the crowd. Unlike the others this person has actually made money in 2025 despite the chaos caused by Trump’s tariffs. And no it’s not Musk, Bezos or Zuckerberg It’s Warren Buffett.
The Tariff Storm Hits Hard
In early 2025 President Trump announced a series of tough tariffs—taxes on goods coming into the United States from other countries. These tariffs were meant to protect American businesses and bring jobs back home. But instead of helping everyone they have caused a lot of trouble. Stock markets around the world including in the U.S. have crashed. Companies that rely on trade with countries like China, India and Taiwan have been hit the hardest. Tech giants like Tesla, Amazon and Meta have seen their stock prices drop sharply and with them the wealth of their founders has taken a big hit.
Elon Musk the man behind Tesla and SpaceX, has lost over $130 billion this year. Jeff Bezos the founder of Amazon is down by about $45 billion. Mark Zuckerberg who runs Meta has seen his fortune shrink by more than $26 billion. These three are among the world’s richest people but Trump’s tariffs have made 2025 a tough year for them. The tariffs have raised costs for their companies, scared investors and caused a massive sell off in the stock market. For most billionaires it’s been a disaster.
Warren Buffett: The Exception
But then there’s Warren Buffett. Known as the “Oracle of Omaha” Buffett is one of the smartest investors in history. He’s the head of Berkshire Hathaway a company that owns stakes in many big businesses like CocaCola, Apple and American Express. While other billionaires have been losing money left and right Buffett has managed to come out ahead. In fact he’s the only American billionaire in the top 20 richest people whose net worth has gone up in 2025. Reports say his wealth has increased by nearly $12 billion this year. How did he do it when everyone else is struggling?
The answer lies in Buffett’s unique approach to money and investing. Unlike Musk, Bezos and Zuckerberg who rely heavily on the stock prices of their tech companies Buffett has built his fortune through careful longterm investments. He doesn’t chase the latest trends or put all his eggs in one basket. Instead he focuses on buying strong stable companies that can weather tough times—like the ones we are seeing now with Trump’s tariffs.
Smart Moves That Paid Off
Buffett’s success in 2025 didn’t happen by accident. Over the past year he made some clever moves that protected his wealth and even helped it grow. For one he sold off some of his investments in companies that were likely to suffer from the tariffs. Berkshire Hathaway quietly sold shares in exchange traded funds (ETFs) and other businesses that could be hurt by trade wars. This move freed up cash and reduced his risk when the stock market started to fall.
At the same time Buffett held onto investments in companies that don’t depend too much on international trade. For example Berkshire Hathaway has big stakes in businesses like insurance railroads and energy—sectors that are less affected by tariffs. These “boring” industries might not get as much attention as flashy tech companies but they have proven to be a safe bet during this chaotic year. While Tesla and Amazon stocks were crashing Buffett’s portfolio stayed steady and even grew.
Why Others Struggled
To understand Buffett’s success it helps to look at why Musk, Bezos and Zuckerberg struggled. Elon Musk’s Tesla relies on parts and manufacturing from countries like China. When Trump slapped high tariffs on Chinese goods, Tesla’s costs went up and its stock price went down. On top of that Musk’s close ties to Trump and his role in the administration have caused some backlash including protests at Tesla showrooms. All of this has hurt his wealth.
Jeff Bezos and Amazon faced similar problems. Amazon sells tons of products that come from overseas especially China. The tariffs made those goods more expensive which hurt Amazon’s profits and scared investors. Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta depends on advertising money from businesses around the world. With the economy slowing down because of the tariffs, companies cut back on ads and Meta’s stock took a hit.
Buffett on the other hand doesn’t run a company that’s directly tied to these issues. His wealth comes from a mix of investments that he’s carefully chosen over decades. He’s not at the mercy of one industry or one stock price which has kept him safe while others lose billions.
Lessons from Buffett
Warren Buffett’s success in 2025 teaches us a few important lessons. First it shows the power of thinking longterm. While other billionaires chased fast growth in tech Buffett stuck to his slow and steady strategy. Second it highlights the value of diversification—spreading your money across different types of businesses so you are not wiped out by one bad event. Finally it proves that staying calm and avoiding panic can pay off even when the world seems to be falling apart.
Buffett has never been a fan of tariffs. In fact he’s called them “an act of war” in the past arguing that they hurt more than they help. But even though he didn’t support Trump’s policies he was ready for them. His smart planning and cool headed approach have made him the only winner among America’s richest people this year.
What’s Next?
As 2025 moves forward the effects of Trump’s tariffs are still unfolding. Some experts worry that the U.S. could slip into a recession—a time when the economy shrinks instead of grows. If that happens more billionaires could see their fortunes shrink. But Buffett seems well positioned to keep doing what he does best making money no matter what the market throws at him.
Warren Buffett stands alone as the only American billionaire in the top tier who’s come out ahead in 2025. While Musk, Bezos and Zuckerberg count their losses Buffett’s $12 billion gain is a reminder that sometimes the old school way of doing things is the best way to survive a storm. In a year defined by chaos and tariffs, the Oracle of Omaha has once again shown why he’s one of the greatest investors of all time.