Berkshire's Insurance Chief Dumps Half His Stake—Is This a Succession Power Play?

Ajit Jain just unloaded 200 Class A shares of Berkshire Hathaway in one fell swoop, cashing out roughly $139 million at $695,418 per share. After nearly 40 years running the insurance division—the crown jewel of Buffett’s empire—Jain trimmed his holdings to just 166 shares (61 directly owned). He’s staying quiet about why.

Here’s where it gets spicy: Buffett himself once said Jain probably made more money for Berkshire than anyone else. Yet with the Oracle now 94 and clearly winding down, Greg Abel—the other vice chairman promoted in 2018—is locked in as the next CEO. So what’s really going on?

The Succession Chess Match

Two VCs, one throne. For years, Jain and Abel have been circling, waiting to see who’d inherit Buffett’s $700+ billion sandbox. But Abel’s already been publicly anointed as the successor, while Jain’s star has been quietly dimming at the corporate level. This stock dump could signal:

• Jain is cashing out before the transition and potentially exiting
• He’s diversifying away from Berkshire concentration risk
• Or it’s just liquidity—though the timing is suspicious

What This Means

If Jain walks, Berkshire loses one of its sharpest insurance minds. If he stays as a figurehead under Abel, expect internal friction. Investors should be watching closely—Berkshire’s next chapter depends on whether this is a graceful handoff or a power struggle ending in resignations.

The $139M question: Is this the beginning of the end for Jain at Berkshire?