Why Warren Buffett Chose Greg Abel: Inside Berkshire Hathaway’s Long-planned Succession
So, the Oracle of Omaha finally named his successor. If you’ve been following the Berkshire Hathaway soap opera—and honestly, who hasn’t?—you know it’s been the business world...
So, the Oracle of Omaha finally named his successor. If you’ve been following the Berkshire Hathaway soap opera—and honestly, who hasn’t?—you know it’s been the business world’s version of Succession, but with fewer yacht trips and more annual reports. Warren Buffett, at 93, has chosen Greg Abel, a Canadian who apparently runs on maple syrup and cold efficiency. Why him? Well, buckle up.
First, let’s talk about what Abel isn’t. He isn’t a celebrity CEO. He doesn’t wear ties (he once joked his wardrobe is 90% golf shirts). He’s the guy quietly running Berkshire’s massive energy empire—the non-insurance side that generates billions. Buffett loves that. The man has always said he’s looking for “a caretaker who loves the business,” not a flashy rockstar. Abel, who started in the trenches as an accountant, is basically a spreadsheet with a heartbeat. And that’s a compliment.
Then there’s the culture fit. Abel has been at Berkshire for over two decades, absorbing Buffett’s “owner-operator” philosophy like a sponge. When asked about his style, he once said, “I don’t try to be Warren. I try to be Greg.” That humility? It’s pure gold to Buffett, who famously prefers to delegate rather than micromanage. Plus, Abel has the patience of a saint—he’s been waiting in the wings for years, never flinching when media obsessively fawned over the other candidate, Ajit Jain. (Spoiler: Ajit is brilliant too, but his insurance empire is a bit too niche for the overall CEO chair.)
And here’s the kicker: Abel gets the future. While Buffett loves railroads and candy, Abel is steering Berkshire into renewable energy and climate-adaptation bets. He’s already pushed the company to become the largest grid-scale solar producer in the U.S. Not bad for a guy who started his career counting beans.
So, what’s the takeaway? It’s not about who’s richer or funnier at shareholder meetings. It’s about stewardship. Buffett didn’t choose Greg Abel because he’s a carbon copy of himself—he chose him because Abel will keep Berkshire weird, wonderful, and wonderfully profitable. As the man himself would say: “Somebody’s sitting in the shade today because of a tree they planted long ago.” Greg Abel is that tree. And honestly? It’s a heck of a good shade.
