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Fortune
Fortune
Emma Burleigh

Meet Greg Abel, the new boss of Berkshire Hathaway—Warren Buffett’s successor started out by selling empty soda bottles for 5 cents and now he’s a billionaire CEO

Left: Greg Abel. Right: Warren Buffett. (Credit: Left: Bloomberg / Contributor / Getty Images. Right: Daniel Zuchnik / Contributor / Getty Images)

For years, people had pressed hedge fund mogul Warren Buffett on who would take over Berkshire Hathaway as he geared up to step down. Rumors swirled, but 63-year-old veteran businessman Greg Abel was ultimately named his successor in 2025. The boomer billionaire has now assumed the throne of the $1 trillion company—but his journey to one of the most coveted roles in business began with working-class entrepreneurship.

Abel got his first taste of business at a young age, collecting, cleaning, and redeeming empty soda bottles for just 5 cents a piece.

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