Gold Hits Record High in 2025, but Warren Buffett Remains Skeptical of Its Long-Term Value

Summary:

Despite gold reaching an all-time high in 2025 amid inflation fears and geopolitical instability, Warren Buffett maintains his longstanding view that gold lacks productive value and should not be central to long-term investment strategies....

Gold’s Record-Breaking Surge in a Volatile Macroeconomic Landscape

In 2025, gold soared to new historical highs as both individual investors and central banks rushed to hedge against inflation, economic instability, and concerns over central bank independence particularly that of the U.S. Federal Reserve. This surge underscores gold’s enduring role as a perceived safe haven, especially during periods of heightened global uncertainty.

Although U.S. inflation has cooled from its 2022 peak of 9% to 2.7% as of November 2025, it remains above the Federal Reserve's 2% target. Persistent macroeconomic volatility continues to drive demand for gold as a store of value, reinforcing its appeal as a protective asset within diversified portfolios.

Buffett’s Firm Rejection of Gold’s Investment Utility

Despite the rally, Warren Buffett remains unconvinced. For decades, the Berkshire Hathaway chairman has criticized gold for its lack of intrinsic productivity. In his 2011 shareholder letter, Buffett famously described gold as “neither useful nor profitable,” stressing that it generates neither cash flow nor long-term value accumulation.

In the same year, he told CNBC that gold merely represents “a way of going long on fear,” implying that its price is driven more by sentiment than by fundamentals. According to Buffett, gold appreciates when anxiety rises and retreats when confidence returns hardly the consistent foundation he prefers for capital allocation.

Buffett consistently favors investments with tangible income and growth prospects such as productive businesses, equities, or real estate over inert assets that depend solely on market perception.

The 2020 Barrick Gold Surprise: A Tactical Exception

A notable deviation from Buffett’s philosophy occurred in Q2 2020, when Berkshire Hathaway disclosed a $565 million stake in Barrick Gold Corp, one of the world’s largest gold miners. However, the move was attributed to portfolio managers Todd Combs or Ted Weschler rather than Buffett himself, and Berkshire divested the position just months later.

The brief holding period reaffirmed Buffett’s reluctance to embrace gold even indirectly through mining equities. The 2020 context, marked by pandemic-induced deflationary risks, differs significantly from the inflation-driven gold rally of 2025.

Strategic Views on Gold Allocation: Diversification, Not Dependence

While Buffett rejects gold as a core asset, other prominent voices endorse its role as a defensive hedge. Financial advisor Laura DiFiglio of Northwestern Mutual suggests allocating about 2.5% of a portfolio to gold within a broader 90/10 equity-bond strategy. She views it as a marginal inflation hedge rather than a growth engine.

Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, has been more vocal in gold’s favor. Speaking at the 2025 Abu Dhabi Finance Week, he emphasized gold’s relevance in a world burdened by sovereign debt and fiscal fragility. Dalio recommended a 10–15% allocation for investors seeking to protect against monetary and systemic risks.

These positions highlight a nuanced distinction: gold is not expected to deliver outsized returns but may play a critical role in risk mitigation. Its utility lies in portfolio balance, not in wealth creation.

Buffett’s Enduring Philosophy: Growth and Cash Flow Over Sentiment

For Buffett, the investment rationale remains clear. Gold, regardless of price momentum, lacks the fundamental attributes that define long-term value: cash generation, business reinvestment potential, and economic productivity. His strategy hinges on disciplined investment in companies that produce goods, services, and profits not commodities whose value is largely sentiment-driven.

Buffett’s consistency offers a cautionary counterpoint to current enthusiasm. While gold may offer short-term relief in turbulent markets, overreliance on it may divert focus from building a durable, income-generating portfolio grounded in economic fundamentals.

The divergence between gold’s rising price and Buffett’s skepticism reflects a broader debate in investment philosophy. In unstable times, gold can serve as a hedge but it is no substitute for a growth-oriented, disciplined investment strategy. As markets navigate inflation, debt, and shifting monetary policies, gold may retain tactical appeal, but for Buffett, the long game still belongs to assets that work, grow, and pay.

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