Berkshire Hathaway is a publicly traded company with no controlling owner, though Warren Buffett’s long-held stake still gives him outsized influence. The big change for 2026: Buffett officially stepped down as CEO on December 31, 2025, handing the role to his hand-picked successor, Greg Abel, who took over on January 1, 2026.
Buffett isn’t gone entirely — at 95, he remains chairman of the board and says he’ll keep coming into the Omaha office, but he’s described himself as “going quiet” and leaving all operating decisions to Abel.
Quick Facts
| Company | Berkshire Hathaway Inc. |
|---|---|
| Ownership Type | Publicly traded (NYSE: BRK.A/BRK.B), no controlling owner |
| CEO | Greg Abel (since January 1, 2026) |
| Chairman | Warren Buffett |
| Buffett’s Economic Stake | ~14% of the company |
| Buffett’s Voting Power | ~30% (via Class A supervoting shares) |
| Founded (Modern Form) | 1965, when Buffett took control of a struggling textile company |
Ownership History
| Year | Development |
|---|---|
| 1965 | Warren Buffett takes control of Berkshire Hathaway, then a struggling New England textile manufacturer |
| 1970s-2000s | Buffett transforms the company into a diversified holding conglomerate, acquiring insurance companies, railroads, and large equity stakes in public companies like Coca-Cola and Apple |
| 2021 | Buffett publicly confirms Greg Abel as his eventual successor for the CEO role |
| December 31, 2025 | Warren Buffett steps down as CEO after six decades leading the company |
| January 1, 2026 | Greg Abel formally becomes CEO, with Buffett remaining chairman of the board |
| 2026 | Abel oversees a notably concentrated equity portfolio, with a large share of Berkshire’s investments concentrated in a handful of stocks including Apple and Alphabet |
Key Ownership Highlights
- Warren Buffett’s roughly 14% economic stake carries about 30% of the voting power thanks to Berkshire’s dual-class share structure, preserving his influence even after stepping back from day-to-day management.
- Greg Abel’s transition to CEO ends one of the longest tenures of any chief executive in modern corporate history — Buffett ran Berkshire for six decades.
- Berkshire owns dozens of well-known operating businesses outright (including GEICO, BNSF Railway, and Dairy Queen) alongside large minority stakes in public companies like Apple, Coca-Cola, and American Express.
- No single shareholder beyond Buffett holds a large enough stake to influence control, making Berkshire a rare case of a public company whose direction is still shaped heavily by one person’s holdings despite decades of dilution through growth.
FAQ
Does Warren Buffett still control Berkshire Hathaway?
He stepped down as CEO on December 31, 2025, but remains chairman and still holds significant voting power through his roughly 14% economic stake and Class A supervoting shares.
Who is Berkshire Hathaway’s CEO now?
Greg Abel became CEO on January 1, 2026, succeeding Warren Buffett.
