Greg Abel and Berkshire Hathaway 2026
Greg Abel officially became Berkshire Hathaway CEO on January 1, 2026, succeeding Warren Buffett who remains as chairman. Abel deployed roughly $35 billion in Q2 2026 alone, his most aggressive investment period yet, and overhauled the portfolio in Q1, exiting 16 holdings and reducing 6. Warren Buffett continues coming to the office daily. Sources: Motley Fool, Berkshire Hathaway annual report, Bloomberg, August 2026.
The context
On January 1, 2026, Greg Abel became CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, closing one of the most scrutinised succession processes in corporate history. Warren Buffett, who had built the company from a struggling textile mill into one of the world’s largest and most admired conglomerates over nearly six decades, stepped back to Executive Chairman, but remained active, coming to the office daily alongside investment managers Ted Weschler and Todd Combs.
Abel wasted no time. His first quarter as CEO was defined by a dramatic portfolio overhaul: he exited 16 holdings entirely and reduced stakes in 6 others, a level of decisiveness rarely seen under the Buffett era’s steady, patient capital accumulation. Then in Q2 2026, he deployed approximately $35 billion in new investments, the most aggressive single-quarter capital deployment in recent Berkshire history. His top 5 positions now account for roughly 63% of Berkshire’s ~$355 billion equity portfolio, a notable concentration bet.
The central question animating financial media and investors alike: is Greg Abel the new Buffett? The answer, as with any investment thesis, will only be knowable over the long run. What is clear is that Abel is not a caretaker CEO. His energy-sector background (he ran Berkshire Hathaway Energy for years) suggests a deep comfort with large-scale, capital-intensive, long-duration businesses. His first moves suggest he is willing to act decisively when he identifies opportunity. Sources: Motley Fool, Bloomberg, Berkshire Hathaway filings, August 2026.