Warren Buffett stepped down as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway at the end of 2025 after more than 40 years of receiving an unchanged annual salary of $100,000. During that period, the board deliberately maintained his compensation at this level, citing his own preference to avoid raises. In 2024, the company also covered $305,111 in personal and home security costs for Mr. Buffett, while he personally reimbursed the company for any personal postage and delivery expenses each year. His long-held frugal practices extended to living in the same Omaha home he purchased decades ago and declining a company car or personal aircraft benefits.

Greg Abel, who led Berkshire’s non-insurance businesses and energy operations before being named CEO, will receive a base salary of $25 million in his new role—250 times the annual pay Mr. Buffett earned. In 2024, Mr. Abel’s compensation as Vice Chairman totaled $21 million, reflecting a significant increase in responsibilities for 2026. Unlike many of his peers, Mr. Abel’s package consists solely of salary and benefits, with no stock options or equity awards disclosed in the recent filing.

In a proxy filing for 2025, Greg Abel reported ownership of 228 Class A shares and 2,363 Class B shares of Berkshire Hathaway. By comparison, Warren Buffett held 206,359 Class A shares and 951 Class B shares as of March 5, 2025, representing 37.9% of all Class A shares outstanding at that time. The transition underscores continuity in governance while highlighting the shift from a founder-centric ownership structure toward a more diversified executive stake.