Warren Buffett, the 95-year-old investing icon and chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, has written his final letter to shareholders, marking the end of one of the most influential eras in global business. After nearly sixty years of leading Berkshire and penning widely studied annual letters, Buffett announced that he will no longer write the company’s reports or address shareholders at its annual meetings. “As the British would say, I’m going quiet,” he wrote in his farewell message titled A Few Final Thoughts.
In his note, Buffett confirmed that Greg Abel will assume the role of CEO by the end of the year, describing him as “a great manager, a tireless worker and an honest communicator.” While stepping away from his formal duties, Buffett said he would continue sharing short Thanksgiving messages each year to maintain a connection with Berkshire’s loyal shareholders, a community he has always treated as long-term partners rather than mere investors.
Buffett’s decision closes a historic chapter in corporate America. His annual letters, often blending wit, philosophy, and business wisdom, became required reading for investors, students, and executives alike. In his final communication, he did not focus on stock markets or economic forecasts but reflected on life lessons, humility, and the value of doing good. “I will no longer be writing Berkshire’s annual report or talking endlessly at the annual meeting. As the British would say, I’m going quiet,” he said, before adding his trademark humour: “Sort of.”
Reflecting on his journey, Buffett said he felt prouder of the second half of his life than the first, encouraging readers to let go of regret. “Don’t beat yourself up over past mistakes, learn at least a little from them, and move on. It is never too late to improve,” he wrote. He urged people to seek out role models who inspire positive change, saying, “Get the right heroes and copy them. You can start with Tom Murphy; he was the best.”
Defining greatness in human rather than material terms, Buffett wrote, “Greatness does not come about through accumulating great amounts of money, great amounts of publicity, or great power in government. When you help someone in any of thousands of ways, you help the world. Kindness is costless but also priceless.” He reminded readers to treat everyone with equal respect, saying, “Keep in mind that the cleaning lady is as much a human being as the Chairman.”
Buffett also cited the story of Alfred Nobel, who changed his life’s direction after mistakenly reading his own obituary. Using the story as a metaphor, Buffett urged readers to live deliberately: “Don’t count on a newsroom mix-up. Decide what you would like your obituary to say and live the life to deserve it.”
He ended his final letter with characteristic warmth and humour, thanking shareholders, employees, and America for the opportunities that shaped his life. “I wish all who read this a very happy Thanksgiving. Yes, even the jerks; it’s never too late to change,” he wrote. With that, Warren Buffett—one of the most admired figures in financial history—bids farewell, leaving behind not just a vast business empire but a legacy rooted in simplicity, integrity, and enduring wisdom.
