Legendary investor Warren Buffett on Wednesday worked his final day as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, ending a six-decade run at the helm. Buffett stunned Wall Street in May when he announced plans to step down at the end of the year. While he’s relinquishing the CEO title, the 95-year-old is not entering full retirement. 

Berkshire Hathaway’s board unanimously named Vice Chairman Greg Abel, 63, as Buffett’s successor. Abel, who has been with the company since 2000 and oversees its non-insurance operations, will assume the role of CEO on January 1.

In his final letter to shareholders in November, Buffett voiced strong support for Abel. Buffett also said he plans to retain a significant stake in Berkshire Hathaway until shareholders grow comfortable with Abel’s leadership, adding that the company’s board and his family fully support the transition. He also emphasized that Berkshire would continue to be managed in a way that benefits both shareholders and the country.

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Buffett also expressed confidence in Berkshire Hathaway’s long-term stability, telling shareholders that the company faces “less chance of a devastating disaster than any business I know” and has “a more shareholder-conscious management and board than almost any company with which I am familiar.”

He also offered a characteristically steady warning to investors that market volatility is inevitable, regardless of who is in charge. 

“Our stock price will move capriciously, occasionally falling 50% or so as has happened three times in 60 years under present management,” said Buffett. “Don’t despair; America will come back and so will Berkshire shares.”

Abel is stepping into enormous shoes. Over Buffett’s tenure, Berkshire Hathaway’s stock climbed from roughly $19 per share to about $750,000, a gain of nearly 4 million percent. Buffett transformed the company from a struggling textile mill into a $1 trillion conglomerate, marking one of the most successful business turnarounds in American history. 

Buffett’s fascination with business began early. He bought his first stock, Cities Service Preferred, at age 11. By 22, he was teaching night classes on investing and managing money for family and friends. In 1956, he launched his firm, Buffett Partnership, which grew from $100,000 to $20 million before he took control of Berkshire Hathaway. He began acquiring shares in 1962 and assumed full leadership in 1965. 

The NBA and the national anthem have been embroiled in controversy for the better part of the last decade. In 2020, NBA players knelt during the anthem at the height of the BLM protests and riots.

In 2025, fans now claim LeBron James practiced his golf swing during the Star-Spangled Banner.

Before Sunday’s game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Sacramento Kings, James was caught on camera swinging his hips and arms as the anthem played in the background.

Sports commentator Craig Carton and other fans felt James was practicing his golf swing during the anthem. Carton called out James’ behavior during Monday’s episode of The Craig Carton Show.

“If you wanna disregard your coach, and disregard your teammates … do it on your own time. Don’t do it during my national anthem,” Carton said.

LEBRON DISRESPECTED THE NATIONAL ANTHEM!

“If you wanna disregard your coach, teammates, do it on your own time… he disrespects the national anthem… that’s a good time to work on my golf swing? While the anthem is being played?” — @craigcartonlive #NBA #Lakers #LeBronJames pic.twitter.com/sMZ66TITDA

— The Craig Carton Show (@CraigCartonShow) December 29, 2025

Clearly, Carton was not happy with James not paying attention to the Star-Spangled Banner.

“Your guy, the self-appointed king, decides that’s a good time for me to work on my golf swing and disrespect the men and women of the military who gave their lives for this country. Let me get a couple air swings in while the anthem is being played because I don’t play good basketball anymore, I got to work on my golf game,” Carton said.

Sunday may have been the first time James’ golf game crossed over with the anthem, but the 41-year-old has made headlines this season for his head seemingly being on the fairway instead of the basketball court.

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During a timeout in October, James was seen getting golf tips from a teammate instead of listening to what was happening inside the huddle.

Earlier in December, he was practicing his golf swing during the Lakers game against the Phoenix Suns.

Those incidents were head scratchers, but Sunday’s antics had pushback.

It adds to the longstanding rocky road between sports and the national anthem.

In 2016, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick first kneeled for the anthem in protest. James supported Kaepernick’s actions for years, even kneeling multiple times during the anthem himself.

During Sunday’s game, it didn’t appear that James was protesting the anthem. Instead, the 23-year NBA veteran simply wasn’t standing at attention like most everyone else in the arena.

Appearing to work on a golf swing at any point during an NBA game is a concern for Lakers fans. Lakers coach JJ Redick said in a recent interview that his team simply doesn’t care enough. James’ close friend, Dwayne Wade, said his former teammate isn’t too concerned about his coach’s comments.

“LeBron is on his golf simulator right now,” Wade said.

It’s clear that James, like many Americans, loves golf. Maybe the backlash from Sunday’s swinging is enough for the NBA legend to rethink what he does during the two minutes it takes to honor the United States.