Warren Buffett’s Step Down Marks New Era for Berkshire Hathaway

09 May 2025

Warren Buffett, after six decades as CEO, will step down from his role at Berkshire Hathaway by the end of 2025 but will continue to serve as chairman. The board of directors has officially approved Greg Abel, the current Vice Chairman overseeing non-insurance operations, as Buffett's successor in the CEO role.

Warren Buffett has been the guiding force behind Berkshire Hathaway, transforming it from a struggling textile company into a sprawling multinational holding company with interests spanning insurance, energy, railroads, and consumer goods. 

Buffett turned a failing textile mill into an $860 billion empire, with iconic stakes in Apple, Coca-Cola, and American Express.

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55 years at the helm - the longest-serving CEO in S&P 500 history.

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• Over his 60-year tenure at Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffett, now at age of 94, has achieved a remarkable total return of 5,502,284% from 1964 through the end of 2024, averaging an annual return of 19.9%. ​

• Berkshire Hathaway's Class A shares have risen approximately 19% year-to-date, trading near all-time highs at $809,000.
  
  
• His astute investment strategies, grounded in value investing principles and a long-term perspective, have not only delivered exceptional returns for shareholders but have also shaped the very landscape of modern finance.​

• Buffett's folksy wisdom, delivered through his annual letters and public appearances, has garnered him a cult-like following and cemented his status as one of the most respected figures in the world.​

• Buffett’s recent shareholder remarks reaffirmed his optimism about the U.S. economy and criticized tariffs as disruptive, emphasizing that trade should foster shared prosperity, not conflict. Warren Buffett has openly criticized tariff policies, calling trade "not a weapon" and emphasizing that balanced global trade benefits everyone.