Updated Oct. 26, 2026: rewritten as a full guide for investors, with steps to buy Berkshire shares and answers to common questions.
Quick answer: Warren Buffett stepped down as Berkshire Hathaway chairman on Sept. 18, 2026, at age 96. He is now chairman emeritus and still sits on the board. His son Howard Buffett is the new chairman, and Greg Abel stays CEO, a job he took over at the start of 2026. For regular investors, nothing about your shares changes. You can still buy Berkshire through any US brokerage as BRK.B (the lower-priced class) or BRK.A.
Berkshire’s leadership at a glance
| Role | Who | Since |
|---|---|---|
| Chairman | Howard Buffett | Sept. 18, 2026 |
| Chairman emeritus and director | Warren Buffett | Sept. 18, 2026 |
| Chief executive officer | Greg Abel | Start of 2026 |
| Lead independent director | Susan Decker | Continues in role |
Berkshire said the chairman change took effect immediately and followed a long-standing succession plan. Howard Buffett has been a Berkshire director since 1993.
What happened on Sept. 18
Berkshire Hathaway announced that Warren Buffett was handing over the chairman’s seat, effective right away. CNBC, NBC News and The Washington Post all reported the news the same day.
Buffett said that after his 96th birthday, he felt “the timing is right” to reduce his role. He did not point to any health problem or business issue.
The move came about nine months after he handed the CEO job to Greg Abel. Abel had long run Berkshire’s non-insurance businesses and was named Buffett’s successor years earlier.
So the change is mostly about titles. The person running the company day to day was already Abel.
Who does what now
Greg Abel: runs the business
As CEO, Abel oversees Berkshire’s operating companies and capital decisions. That includes how Berkshire spends its huge cash pile and which stocks or businesses it buys.
Howard Buffett: guards the culture
Warren Buffett has said for years that he wanted Howard as non-executive chairman. The idea was simple: the chairman would not run the business but would help protect Berkshire’s culture and step in if the board ever needed to change the CEO.
Warren Buffett: still in the room
As chairman emeritus and a director, Buffett keeps a seat at the table. Berkshire said he will continue to share his judgment with the board.
What it means for people who own Berkshire stock
If you own Berkshire shares in a brokerage account, IRA or 401(k), here is the short version:
- Your shares do not change. No action is needed. There is no exchange, split or new ticker.
- The strategy is expected to stay the same. Berkshire still owns dozens of businesses, including GEICO, BNSF Railway and Berkshire Hathaway Energy, plus a large stock portfolio.
- Berkshire does not pay a dividend. It has kept profits inside the company for decades. Any change would be a board decision, and none has been announced.
- Short-term price moves can happen. Leadership news can move any stock for a few days. That is normal and says little about long-term value.
Many Americans also own Berkshire without knowing it. It is one of the largest holdings in S&P 500 index funds and total market funds.
BRK.A vs. BRK.B: which share should you buy?
| Feature | Class A (BRK.A) | Class B (BRK.B) |
|---|---|---|
| Price per share | Very high (hundreds of thousands of dollars) | 1/1,500 of a Class A share |
| Voting rights | Full votes | Much smaller votes |
| Can convert? | Yes, A can convert into B | No, B cannot convert into A |
| Best for | Very large investors | Most regular investors |
For almost everyone, BRK.B is the practical choice. Many brokerages also let you buy fractional shares, so you can start with a small dollar amount. Check your broker’s live quote for today’s price.
How to buy Berkshire Hathaway stock in 5 steps
- Open or log in to a brokerage account. Fidelity, Schwab, Vanguard, Robinhood and most US brokers offer BRK.B with no commission on online stock trades.
- Pick the account type. A Roth IRA or traditional IRA can give tax benefits. A regular taxable account gives you more flexibility.
- Search the ticker “BRK.B”. Some apps show it as BRK/B or BRK-B. Make sure the company name says Berkshire Hathaway Inc. Class B.
- Choose the amount. Enter a number of shares or a dollar amount if your broker supports fractional shares. A limit order lets you set the most you will pay.
- Hold for the long term. Berkshire is built for patient owners. Buffett often said he wanted shareholders who planned to stay for years.
Made-up example (not real people): These are made-up examples to show how the math works.
Maria, 34, Ohio puts $50 a month into BRK.B through fractional shares in her Roth IRA. She never has to pick a perfect day to buy, and any growth in the Roth can be tax-free in retirement if she follows the rules.
Dave, 61, Arizona already owns an S&P 500 index fund. He learns Berkshire is already inside that fund, so he decides not to buy extra. He avoids putting too much money in one company as he nears retirement.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Buying BRK.A by accident. Double-check the ticker. A single Class A share costs far more than most people plan to invest.
- Selling in a panic on headlines. The leadership plan was public for years. A title change is not a reason to dump a long-term holding.
- Putting too much in one stock. Even a giant like Berkshire is still one company. Many planners suggest keeping any single stock to a small slice of your portfolio.
- Expecting dividends. Berkshire does not pay them. If you need income, look at dividend funds or bonds instead.
- Ignoring taxes. Selling shares in a taxable account at a gain can trigger capital gains tax. Check with a tax pro if the amount is large.
Also read: How to Start Investing With $100 in Index Funds
Buffett’s legacy in plain numbers
Buffett took control of Berkshire Hathaway in 1965, when it was a struggling textile company. Over six decades he turned it into one of the largest companies in the US.
His annual letters to shareholders became required reading for investors. His main ideas are simple and still useful for everyday savers:
- Buy good businesses at fair prices and hold them for a long time.
- Keep costs low. Buffett has told most people to use low-cost S&P 500 index funds.
- Do not borrow heavily to invest.
- Keep enough cash so you are never forced to sell at a bad time.
Buffett has also pledged to give away nearly all of his fortune, mostly through foundations run by his children and the Gates Foundation.
What to watch next
- Berkshire’s quarterly earnings. They show how Abel is managing cash, buybacks and the insurance business.
- The annual shareholder meeting in Omaha. It is usually held in early May. It will be one of the first big meetings with Howard Buffett as chairman.
- Abel’s first big deals. Investors will watch whether he puts Berkshire’s large cash reserves to work.
Recommended products
- Berkshire Hathaway letters to shareholders
- The Essays of Warren Buffett
- The Little Book of Common Sense Investing
- Budget planner notebooks
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Nexgen Headlines earns from qualifying purchases.
FAQ
Is Warren Buffett still involved with Berkshire Hathaway?
Yes. He is chairman emeritus and remains on the board of directors. He no longer holds the chairman or CEO titles.
Who is running Berkshire Hathaway now?
Greg Abel is CEO and runs the company day to day. Howard Buffett is the non-executive chairman.
Should I sell my Berkshire stock because Buffett stepped down?
Not just because of this news. The succession plan was public for years, and Abel was already CEO. Base any decision on your goals, timeline and how much of your money is in one stock.
Does Berkshire Hathaway pay a dividend?
No. Berkshire has not paid a regular dividend in decades. It reinvests profits and sometimes buys back its own shares.
What is the cheapest way to own Berkshire?
Buy BRK.B with fractional shares at a no-commission broker, or own a low-cost S&P 500 index fund, which already holds Berkshire.
Bottom line
Buffett’s step back ends a six-decade era, but it changes little for everyday investors. Greg Abel runs the company, Howard Buffett chairs the board, and your shares stay the same. If you want to own Berkshire, BRK.B is the simple way in. Keep it as one part of a diversified plan, not your whole plan.
Last reviewed: Oct. 26, 2026. This article is general information, not investment advice. Check your broker for current prices.
Sources: CNBC (Sept. 18, 2026); NBC News; The Washington Post; Berkshire Hathaway Inc.; SEC Investor.gov.
Featured image: Warren Buffett at the 2015 SelectUSA Investment Summit. Photo: USA International Trade Administration / Wikimedia Commons, public domain; edited by Nexgen Headlines.
