# Attendance is down significantly this year with the arena only a little over half full.

*business · news · 2026-05-02 · NBC News*

## Key points

- Greg Abel led his first Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting as CEO, marking a major leadership transition.
- Attendance dropped significantly this year, with the arena only a little over half full at the start.
- Berkshire Hathaway's cash pile reached a record $397.4 billion at the end of the first quarter.
- Berkshire announced first-quarter profits more than doubled to $10.1 billion, driven by investment gains.
- Retail and service businesses now report to NetJets CEO Adam Johnson, a new administrative structure under Abel.

**Companies:** Berkshire Hathaway, Apple, Geico, BNSF, Pacificorp, NetJets, Jazwares, Brooks Running, See's Candy, Dairy Queen
**Countries:** United States

[Read the full story on NBC News](https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/berkshire-hathaway-annual-meeting-rcna343200)

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