Summary List Placement Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway took a surprise stake in Barrick Gold earlier this year. The famed investor's endorsement could spur more investors to bet on the metal, NovaGold chairman Thomas Kaplan said on an earnings call this week. "He's made it safe for anyone interested in gold to be looking at the gold narrative," he added. Kaplan previously benefited from Buffett's unexpected purchase of 130 million ounces of silver in the late 1990s, as it legitimized the metal as an investment. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.