The End Of An Era: Warren Buffett Readies His Farewell From Berkshire Hathaway

At 94 years old, Warren Buffett is preparing his exit. In Omaha, he has named his heir: Greg Abel. Discreet, loyal, methodical. The announcement, made before thousands of shareholders, closes a chapter. Berkshire Hathaway is entering the post-Buffett era. The event does not mark an end. It is a carefully considered handover, balancing legendary caution and new challenges. It’s not every day that an empire changes hands without shaking.

Berkshire Hathaway: An Empire Quietly Passed On

Warren Buffett, who announced his stock market retirement last year, has always liked to surprise without shock. He proved it again this year in Omaha. On stage, he names Greg Abel as the next CEO. Simply. Directly. Without warning. Abel, vice president of non-insurance operations, is suddenly propelled to head the empire. Buffett reassures:

I will remain in the shadows, but Greg will have the final say.

By his side, Abel does not flinch. The room applauds for a long time. Ron Olson, a board member, confirms:

Greg is ready. We’ve known it for a long time.

Even skeptics admit it. This succession has been prepared for years. Buffett has always preferred smooth transitions over abrupt breaks. It is his trademark: the long-term strategy, applied to his own departure.

The board will officially vote in the coming months. But the verdict is already known: it will be yes. Unanimously.

Warren Buffett: Clarity, Symbols, and Convictions

Behind the announcement, there is a message. Buffett has never liked useless drumbeats. He speaks little, but when he does, he delivers his truths. On stage, he denounces an American budget system he considers “unsustainable“. He describes the economy as a “cathedral attached to a casino“.

The metaphor is telling: one must keep building, not just betting. Buffett keeps his shares. All of them. He declares:

It is an economic choice. I believe in Greg.

He stays, but more as a shadow than a torch. What worries him most? The explosion of debts and tax abuses. And the market? He finds it nervous, undisciplined, increasingly short-term focused.

Buffett is the investor of the century, but he sees this century going off track. So, he passes the torch. And fades away. But in his own way: by continuing to invest with his convictions.

Greg Abel: Heading for the Challenges of the Century

Greg Abel does not arrive in an easy chair. He inherits a powerful ship, but in the midst of a storm. Climate, debt, technology, regulation: everything is moving. Everything is accelerating. In energy, he is already managing recurring fires. Literally. $1.1 billion in losses due to fires in California. Risk management is crucial.

In finance, bitcoin challenges his landmarks. Buffett called it “rat poison”. Simon Lutz recalls it on X:

This poison is the attack against the Bank for International Settlements.

The fuse is lit, and Abel will have to walk on it without shaking. Buffett leaves him $348 billion in cash. But also a rigorous investment ethic. Here are the key figures of the moment:

• $348 billion: Berkshire reserves;
• 781%: bitcoin performance since 2020;
• 150%: Berkshire’s performance over the same period;
• $809,000: price of a class A share;
• 1%: tax on buybacks that slows repurchases.

A Message to Wall Street

This power transfer goes beyond Berkshire. It is a message to the world of finance. Grandpa capitalism passes the baton to capitalism under stress. Buffett remains a myth, but Abel becomes the guardian of the temple. No revolution announced, but continuity under pressure.

The context is loaded: unpredictable market, new regulations, pervasive digital assets. But Berkshire keeps its principles: patience, discipline, cash. Abel will also have to face a different public. Less patient. Less loyal. The era of lifetime shareholders is ending. Instantaneousness takes over.

And yet, Buffett believes in his choice. He states that prospects will be better with Abel. He admits:

I keep every share. It’s not sentimental, it’s rational.

The message is clear: the ship remains solid, even without its historic captain. The real question: will Abel be able to stay himself while embodying Buffett?

Warren Buffett is the kind of financier who knows how to navigate troubled waters. Recently, while the general trend among the wealthy is collapse amidst tariff tensions, he remained unmoved. Result: $23.4 billion in personal gains.