Outlook Business Desk
Greg Abel, the newly appointed CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, will receive an annual cash salary of $25mn, marking a 19% increase from his 2024 pay, according to a recent company filing.
Abel’s pay far exceeds Warren Buffett’s long-standing $100,000 annual salary, although Buffett’s wealth from his large Berkshire stake made him one of the richest men globally, with a net worth of around $150bn.
Abel joined Berkshire Hathaway in 1999 through the MidAmerican acquisition and became CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Energy in 2008, rising to vice chairman in 2018 to manage all non-insurance businesses.
Greg Abel officially took over as CEO on 1 January after Warren Buffett retired at 95, ending his more than six-decade leadership of the Omaha-based conglomerate he built from the ground up.
Abel earned $20mn in 2023, $21mn in 2024, and received additional compensation through bonuses, reflecting steady pay increases as vice chairman under Buffett’s guidance.
Meanwhile, Berkshire’s Vice Chairman Ajit Jain, overseeing insurance operations, earned comparable compensation to Abel between 2022 and 2024. The 2025 pay for both executives has not yet been disclosed publicly.
Greg Abel owns roughly $171mn in Berkshire stock. In 2022, he sold his 1% stake in Berkshire Hathaway Energy back to the company for $870mn, highlighting his substantial investment history.