Buffett backs new CEO Greg Abel with ‘enormous endorsement’ in CNBC interview

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Warren Buffett informed CNBC’s Becky Fast he would relatively have new Berkshire Hathaway CEO Greg Abel deal with his cash “than any of the highest funding advisers or any of the highest CEOs in america.”

Buffett’s shares within the firm are at present valued at $147.5 billion, so by managing Berkshire, Abel will, in impact, even be managing nearly all of Buffett’s monumental internet price.

Fast interviewed Buffett in Might, just some days after he introduced he deliberate to step down as CEO at year-end. Wednesday was his final day on the job, though he’ll stay chairman of the board and nonetheless plans to return to the workplace daily.

CNBC aired brief excerpts on Friday from that dialog to assist promote a particular program later this month that may function the complete interview.

Within the clips, Buffett promised Abel might be “the decider,” and can be capable of get extra performed in per week than he himself can accomplish in a month.

He praised Abel for not being a “distorted particular person,” saying he “lives what would appear like a traditional life” though he’ll run an organization with 400 thousand workers that “has a greater likelihood … of being right here 100 years from now than any firm I can consider.”

And whereas Buffett will not be on stage at this Might’s annual assembly, he advised to Becky that “possibly you may interview me” throughout CNBC’s protection of the occasion.

This is video of Becky’s report on the interview from Friday’s “Squawk Field,” together with the textual content of Buffett’s interview excerpts.

WARREN BUFFETT: Every little thing would be the similar. You understand, I’ll are available.

I will not — I will not be up there talking on the annual assembly, however I will be within the administrators’ part.

Possibly you may interview me at — (laughs) — at half-time or one thing of the kind, who is aware of?

However Greg would be the decider. [I] cannot think about how way more he can get completed in per week than I can [in] a month. I imply, he simply —

And on the similar time, he isn’t a distorted particular person. You understand, I imply, he — he likes to play ice hockey together with his youngsters.

And … he lives what would appear like a traditional life. And my guess is that if the neighbors did not know who know who he was, they would not have any concept that — that on — on January 1st, he will be the decider on an organization that — that employs near 400 thousand individuals and has obtained plans round — to be round fifty or 100 years from now.

And who is aware of what’ll occur? Nevertheless it has a greater likelihood, I believe, of being right here 100 years from now than any firm I can consider.

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WARREN BUFFETT: And Greg’s operated greater than I’ve once you get proper right down to it.

I imply, he is gone over to England to run one thing. He went to — you recognize — we — he got here to Omaha one time to run a enterprise for a number of years.

And it — he is aware of — there is not any secret formulation that — that — solely CEOs have or something of the kind.

So, I would relatively have Greg dealing with my cash than any of the highest funding advisors or any of the highest CEOs in america.

BECKY QUICK: That could be a enormous endorsement.

WARREN BUFFETT: It’s a enormous endorsement, but it surely’s an endorsement we have made. (Laughs)

And — and I’m going to have him dealing with the cash of the, you recognize, in impact, I —

He is aware of enterprise. 

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Later within the day on “Cash Issues,” a piece of the interview was replayed, adopted by CNBC’s Senior Markets Commentator Michael Santoli’s ideas on Berkshire’s well-telegraphed transition to a brand new CEO.

All the interview might be featured on a particular program, “Warren Buffett: A Life and Legacy,” scheduled to air on CNBC on Tuesday, January 13 at 7 pm ET.

That provides the S&P a particularly early lead of 1.60 proportion factors over BRKA year-to-date.

With S&P dividends included, the metric Berkshire makes use of for comparisons in its annual studies, the lead is 1.62 proportion factors.

For 2025, the S&P with dividends outperformed Berkshire’s A shares by 7.0 proportion factors.

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BRK.A inventory value: $744,120.00

BRK.B inventory value: $496.85

BRK.B P/E (TTM): 15.89

Berkshire market capitalization: $1,071,267,887,262

Berkshire Money as of September 30: $381.7 billion (Up 10.9% from June 30)

Excluding Rail Money and Subtracting T-Payments Payable: $354.3 billion (Up 4.3% from June 30)

No Berkshire inventory repurchases since Might 2024.

(All figures are as of the date of publication, except in any other case indicated)

Berkshire’s prime holdings of disclosed publicly traded shares within the U.S. and Japan, by market worth, based mostly on the newest closing costs.

Holdings are as of September 30, 2025, as reported in Berkshire Hathaway’s 13F submitting on November 14, 2025, apart from:

The total record of holdings and present market values is offered from CNBC.com’s Berkshire Hathaway Portfolio Tracker.

Please ship any questions or feedback in regards to the publication to me at alex.crippen@nbcuni.com. (Sorry, however we do not ahead questions or feedback to Buffett himself.)

If you happen to aren’t already subscribed to this article, you’ll be able to enroll right here.

Additionally, Buffett’s annual letters to shareholders are extremely really useful studying. There are collected right here on Berkshire’s web site.

— Alex Crippen, Editor, Warren Buffett Watch