What Is the Plan for Berkshire Hathaway's $300 Billion Equity Portfolio Following Warren Buffett's Retirement?

Core Insights - Warren Buffett officially retired as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway on January 1, 2026, marking the end of an era for the conglomerate [2][7] - Greg Abel has succeeded Buffett as CEO, focusing on Berkshire's diverse operating businesses, while Ted Wechsler is likely to manage the company's $300 billion equity portfolio following Todd Combs' departure to JPMorgan Chase [3][4][7] Company Leadership Changes - Greg Abel, who has a background in one of Berkshire's operating businesses, MidAmerican Energy, will lead the company [3] - Todd Combs, previously involved in managing part of Berkshire's equity portfolio, is leaving to oversee JPMorgan's Strategic Investment Group [4][7] Investment Portfolio Management - Ted Wechsler is expected to take over as the sole portfolio manager for Berkshire's $300 billion equity portfolio after Combs' exit [4] - Berkshire Hathaway has approximately $377.4 billion in cash and short-term Treasury investments, providing significant capital for future investments [5] Equity Position Adjustments - Buffett has been reducing Berkshire's stakes in major equity positions, notably Apple and Bank of America, with a 74% reduction in Apple since Q3 2023 [6] - Despite the reduction, Apple remains the largest public equity holding in Berkshire's portfolio, accounting for 22.3% [6]