‘High on Coke’: Elon Musk stunned by Berkshire’s dividend payout. Learn how to build your own passive income stream now

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Tesla CEO Elon Musk is no stranger to eye-popping sums of money. After all, he currently holds the title of the world's wealthiest person, with his wealth fluctuating around $1 trillion since SpaceX's June IPO (1).

But even for Musk, some financial figures are enough to raise an eyebrow.

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For instance, Berkshire Hathaway's 2022 annual report revealed that the investment empire earned $704 million in dividends that year from its Coca-Cola holdings (2). Upon hearing the news, Musk couldn't resist commenting on X, "Berkshire Hathaway [is] high on Coke (3)."

That figure was calculated based on Berkshire's roughly 400 million shares in Coca-Cola and the 44 cents per share that Coca-Cola paid out in quarterly dividends in 2022 (4).

Fast-forward to 2026, and that dividend payout has climbed even higher. According to Berkshire's latest 13F filing for the second quarter of 2026, the company still holds 400 million shares in Coca-Cola (5). With Coca-Cola having raised its 2026 dividend to $2.12 per share (6), Berkshire is estimated to collect an impressive $848 million in dividend income for the year.

As the former CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffett has long expressed his love for Coca-Cola.

On a 2019 Squawk Box episode, Buffett shared with CNBC, "I drink probably five 12-ounce Cokes a day, and that's about 700 calories, and I've been doing it more or less my whole life. I can't imagine anybody that feels better than I do (7)."

Beyond his appreciation for the taste, Buffett's Coca-Cola investment became a remarkable source of passive income for the company — and you can learn from his strategy when building your own portfolio.

Here are three takeaways to consider on your path to passive income.

Investing in the stock market has never been more accessible, allowing everyday investors to earn passive income through dividend-paying stocks — just like Buffett. Companies that consistently pay dividends enable investors to earn income without having to sell their shares.