Greg didn’t start his career on Wall Street. No, no—he began at Arthur Andersen, the accounting firm. Think of that as the Hogwarts School of Spreadsheets. After that, he joined a utility company called CalEnergy. And what does a utility company do? It delivers power—the boring, invisible stuff that makes your Netflix stream work.
But here’s where it gets surprising: Greg turned that boring utility into a massive empire. He merged it with other utilities, bought up renewable energy projects, and eventually created Berkshire Hathaway Energy. Today, it’s one of the largest renewable energy producers in the world. Who knew that making electricity could be so electric?
And if you think Greg is all business, picture this: He is obsessed with efficiency. Like, to the point where he once sent a memo to staff saying the company was spending too much on frozen yogurt in the break room. Seriously. The man watches every penny. But he also loves a good fly-fishing trip. Go figure.
Greg Abel Biography, Age, Height, Wife, Net Worth
The Surprising Path: From Ski Slopes to CEO Seat
Greg’s journey to Berkshire’s top wasn’t a straight line—it was more like a labyrinth with a few ski jumps. He grew up in Canada, where winters are basically a six-month-long ice age. To survive, he became a ski instructor in his teens. Yes, really. He taught people how to fall gracefully down a mountain. That skill probably came in handy when he had to navigate corporate politics.
After college, he moved to the U.S. and later earned an MBA from the University of Chicago. But he didn’t flash that degree around. Instead, he quietly learned from Buffett himself. Greg once said, “Warren taught me that you don’t need to be a genius to invest. You just need patience and a good accountant.” Or something like that—I’m paraphrasing, but you get the vibe.
And here’s the wild part: When Buffett started looking for a successor, Greg wasn’t even in the top three. Everyone thought it would be Ajit Jain, the insurance wizard. Or Todd Combs, the investment guru. But Greg? He was the quiet guy in the corner who kept powering the lights on. Then, in 2026, Buffett surprised everyone: “Greg is the guy.”
Greg Abel Wins Investor Confidence in First Berkshire Annual Meeting as
