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Greg Abel

movie Businessman cake 1 June 1962 (Friday) (Edmonton, Canada)
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Net Worth

$1 billion (as of 2025)

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Height

5' 10" (178 cm)

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Age

63

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Nation

Canadian

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Basic Information

Date of Birth: 1 June 1962 (Friday)
Birthplace: Edmonton, Canada
Zodiac Sign: Gemini
Nationality: Canadian
Hometown: Edmonton, Canada

Family & Relationships

Marital Status: Married
Spouse: Andrea Abel
Children: 4 (3 children from first marriage, a son from second marriage)

Education

Schools: Greg Abel grew up in a close-knit, working-class neighbourhood in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Colleges: University of Alberta, Canada (1984)
Education: Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting

person_book Biography

Some Lesser Known Facts About Greg Abel

  • Greg Abel grew up in a close-knit, working-class neighbourhood in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
  • Abel spent much of his childhood playing hockey with neighbourhood friends almost every day and coming home when it was time for dinner.
  • Before his birth, his mother worked as a legal assistant and later chose to stay home to raise the family, while his father built a career in sales.
  • Growing up, Greg took on small jobs such as handing out flyers and collecting refundable glass bottles to earn his own money. He later worked as a labourer for a forest products company.
  • During his early years, he was actively involved in sports and developed a strong interest in both hockey and football.
  • During high school, Abel decided to pursue a career in business.
  • While in high school and college, he worked at Levitt Safety, filling fire extinguishers. The company later awarded him a small scholarship to help pay for his studies at the University of Alberta.
  • Although Abel was always a dedicated student, hearing about the Dean’s List after his first college year motivated him to work harder and achieve more academically.
  • During summers in college, Abel worked for the City of Edmonton’s Parks and Recreation Department as a program planner and sports camp counsellor.
  • After graduating from the University of Alberta with distinction in 1984, he qualified as a certified public accountant and earned accreditation from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).
  • He began his professional journey as a chartered accountant, working at PricewaterhouseCoopers in San Francisco.
  • In 1992, he moved into the energy sector by joining CalEnergy, a company focused on geothermal power generation.
  • In 1999, CalEnergy bought MidAmerican Energy and began operating under its name. Later that year, Berkshire Hathaway acquired a controlling stake in the company.
  • In 2008, he was appointed chief executive officer of MidAmerican Energy.
  • MidAmerican Energy was rebranded as Berkshire Hathaway Energy in 2014.
  • In January 2018, Abel became vice chairman of Berkshire Hathaway for non-insurance operations and joined its board of directors.
  • Greg has also held several leadership and advisory positions, including serving as vice chairman of the Edison Electric Institute (EEI).
  • He has served as a director of companies like AEGIS Limited, Kraft Heinz, Nuclear Electric Insurance Limited (NEIL), the Hockey Canada Foundation, the Mid-Iowa Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and the American Football Coaches Foundation.
  • Greg has also contributed to higher education governance through his service as a trustee at both Duke University and Drake University.
  • In a May 2021 interview, Warren Buffett confirmed Greg Abel as his future successor as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. He added that Abel’s work on CalEnergy’s takeover of a British utility in the 1990s showed early trust in his leadership.
  • In June 2022, Abel sold his one percent ownership stake in Berkshire Hathaway Energy for approximately $870 million.
  • In October 2022, it was reported that Abel bought 168 Berkshire Hathaway Class A shares worth about $68 million. Earlier records showed that he already owned five Class A shares and 2,363 Class B shares.
  • In May 2025, Warren Buffett said it was the right moment for Greg Abel to become Berkshire Hathaway’s chief executive by the end of the year.
  • According to the Associated Press, the timing of Warren Buffett’s retirement announcement was known only to his children. Greg Abel was not told about it beforehand.
  • Greg is known to be actively involved in youth sports activities.
  • He is the founding sponsor of Future Leaders in Action, a nonprofit that helps young people build leadership skills through child-focused organisations.
  • Abel is also the lead supporter of the Cornea Excellence Fund at the University of Iowa Foundation, which advances ophthalmology research.
  • He supports the American Football Coaches Foundation, which provides resources to high school and non-division-one college coaches so they can better mentor young athletes.

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