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.

What Happened: The undisclosed investments of Berkshire Hathaway have been made public. The company has reportedly invested in steelmaker Nucor NUE +1.07% Get Free Report , homebuilders D.R. Horton DHI +1.30% Get Free Report and Lennar LEN +1.56% Get Free Report , with the total investments amounting to $1.8 billion.

Shares of UnitedHealth Group are surging before the market open Friday as Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway disclosed that it recently purchased shares of the beleaguered insurer.