Greg Abel took over as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway at the beginning of 2026, succeeding legendary investor Warren Buffett. Now, one of Berkshire’s more unusual recent investments is giving investors another reason to watch the company’s evolution under its new leadership. [cnbc.com]
Berkshire Hathaway recently invested an additional $330 million in Milan-based technology company Bending Spoons, following a $600 million investment made when Bending Spoons went public in July. Together, the investments bring Berkshire’s ownership stake to approximately 4%. [investors….spoons.com], [cnbc.com]
What makes the investment particularly interesting is the company itself. Bending Spoons operates very differently from many businesses historically associated with Berkshire. It acquires digital businesses and works to transform and optimize them before reinvesting earnings into additional acquisitions. Its portfolio includes names such as AOL, Vimeo, Evernote, Eventbrite, WeTransfer and Airtable. [investors….spoons.com], [thenextweb.com]
That doesn’t necessarily signal a wholesale change in Berkshire’s investment philosophy, but it certainly makes Bending Spoons an interesting company to watch during the early Greg Abel era.
Fun Fact: From Collecting Bottles to Berkshire
Greg Abel grew up in a working-class neighborhood in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Long before his career at Berkshire, he earned spending money delivering advertising flyers and collecting discarded bottles for their refunds. He later worked in a forest-products business and even filled fire extinguishers while in high school and college. [gregoryabel.com]
Abel went on to earn a commerce degree from the University of Alberta and began his professional career in accounting before eventually moving into the energy industry. He became a central figure in what is now Berkshire Hathaway Energy before rising through Berkshire’s leadership ranks. [en.wikipedia.org], [gregoryabel.com]
And one more fitting Canadian detail: hockey was reportedly a regular part of Abel’s childhood in Edmonton. [gregoryabel.com]
Why We Find It Interesting
Following Warren Buffett may be one of the most formidable succession assignments in corporate history. Yet Greg Abel arrives with decades of operating experience and a decidedly different personal story.
The Bending Spoons investment is intriguing precisely because it looks somewhat different from the businesses many people traditionally associate with Berkshire. Whether it ultimately represents a broader evolution in investment strategy remains to be seen, and one investment alone certainly doesn’t establish a trend.
But that’s exactly why Abel is worth watching.
The question isn’t whether he’ll become the next Warren Buffett. It’s how he’ll make Berkshire Hathaway his own while preserving the culture he inherited.
Disclosure
This material is provided for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any security. References to companies, securities, executives or transactions are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement. Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results.