economy

January 10, 2026

Abel's $25 million Berkshire paycheck is in the same league as other S&P 500 CEOs

Greg Abel's $25M salary as Berkshire Hathaway's CEO is an enormous jump from Warren Buffett's famously small paycheck, but Abel still lags the nation's best paid corporate leaders.

Abel's $25 million Berkshire paycheck is in the same league as other S&P 500 CEOs

TL;DR

  • Greg Abel's 2026 salary as Berkshire Hathaway CEO will be $25 million, a 19% increase from his 2024 salary.
  • Abel's salary would be the highest annual cash salary for an S&P 500 CEO between 2010 and 2024.
  • Berkshire Hathaway does not use its stock to pay employees.
  • Warren Buffett's annual salary was $100,000, with additional compensation for security services.
  • Abel owns Berkshire shares currently valued at approximately $171 million.
  • Berkshire Hathaway shares saw slight gains in Abel's first week as CEO but lagged the S&P 500.
  • Warren Buffett had previously suggested that a successor might be paid a modest amount with options tied to retained earnings.

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