Potential Successors for Warren Buffett's Investing Legacy: A Look at Five Promising Candidates
In the world of global investing, the name Warren Buffett is synonymous with success and wisdom. As the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, Buffett has built an empire that has stood the test of time. However, as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end, and Buffett has announced his plans to step down at the end of 2025. The question on everyone's mind is who will take the reins and continue Buffett's legacy?
The top contender to succeed Buffett is Greg Abel, the head of Berkshire Hathaway's non-insurance businesses. Abel has been handpicked by Buffett to become CEO when Buffett steps down, and he is widely recognized as the most credible and immediate successor to Buffett’s legacy as a top global investor [1][2][3]. Abel is known as a talented operator, expected to be more hands-on than Buffett, and is poised to focus on deals and possibly introduce dividends, continuing Berkshire Hathaway's legacy of intelligent capital allocation [1].
Beyond Abel, there are a few other investors with strong track records who are sometimes mentioned as potential successors to Buffett’s investing mantle, but none carry Buffett's broad influence or have been officially designated as leaders in this regard. Abel’s close association with Buffett and his role running a substantial portion of Berkshire Hathaway’s operations make him the clearest front-runner [2].
One of the key deals Abel is credited with is the introduction of the electric-vehicle company BYD to Warren Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway, which ultimately invested in the Chinese company, earning billions for Berkshire shareholders [4]. Buffett himself has stated that he believes Berkshire Hathaway's prospects will be better under Abel's management [5].
Another notable investor is Bill Ackman, the founder of Pershing Square Capital, an investment fund that holds a concentrated portfolio of stocks. Ackman has expressed an interest in building a Berkshire-like entity with permanent capital for long-term investing [6]. Ackman is more outspoken on political issues, supporting President Donald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and backing Israel's actions in Gaza during the Israel-Hamas war [7]. As of July 2025, Ackman's net worth is approximately $8.2 billion, according to Bloomberg [8].
Seth Klarman is the CEO and portfolio manager at The Baupost Group, a Boston-based investment manager that specializes in value investing across various asset classes, including stocks, bonds, and commercial real estate. Klarman is not explicitly mentioned as a candidate to be the next Warren Buffett, but he is a top wealth advisor whose strategies could potentially help someone turn $1,000 into $1 million [9]. Klarman is the author of "Margin of Safety," considered one of the best books on investing ever written, and his firm, The Baupost Group, is a highly respected investment firm in the value investing community [10].
Li Lu, born in China, was one of the leaders of the student protests in Tiananmen Square in 1989 and later earned a bachelor's degree, law degree, and MBA from Columbia University simultaneously. Li Lu is not currently employed by Berkshire Hathaway, but he was once expected to join the company in an investment role [11][12]. Li Lu followed the same investment philosophy as Buffett and his long-time partner Charlie Munger, and managed money on Munger's behalf [13].
Ted Weschler and Todd Combs each manage a portion of Berkshire Hathaway's massive stock portfolio [14]. Greg Abel, currently a vice chairman at Berkshire Hathaway, has been handpicked by Warren Buffett to succeed him as CEO in 2025 [1][2][3]. Abel oversees the company's non-insurance businesses, including BNSF Railway, Berkshire Hathaway Energy, and various retail operations [15]. Abel has worked with Berkshire's energy business for many years and was president of MidAmerican Energy when Berkshire invested in it in 1999 [16].
In conclusion, while there are several investors with impressive track records, Greg Abel seems to be the most likely to succeed Warren Buffett as the next great investor. His close association with Buffett, his operational skills, and his investment judgment make him the clearest front-runner [1][2][3]. The future of Berkshire Hathaway is uncertain, but with Abel at the helm, it is in good hands.
Investing will remain a crucial aspect of Berkshire Hathaway's business, with Greg Abel, the head of its non-insurance businesses, poised to continue intelligent capital allocation as he takes over the reins from Warren Buffett. Beyond Abel, investors like Bill Ackman and Seth Klarman, with their strong track records and distinctive approaches, are sometimes mentioned as potential successors in the investing world, albeit none carrying Buffett's broad influence or official designation.
