The biggest immediate changes will be that different people will be in control of the company's stock portfolio, and Abel will have power over Berkshire's $344 billion cash hoard. However, portfolio managers Ted Weschler and Todd Combs have been managing more of Berkshire's investments as the years have progressed.

Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway revealed a position in embattled healthcare giant UnitedHealth Group while showing smaller stakes in longtime holdings Apple and Bank of America, according to a regulatory filing Thursday.