I’m feeling terrific: Buffett

Even one of the richest men in the world has to worry about succession planning.

In fact, Warren Buffett, CEO and chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, says he and his board of directors spend more time on it than any other issue.

Read: Buffett’s worth the trip to Omaha

At 81 years of age, the Oracle of Omaha has had to face questions about his mortality for many years but his recent revelation that he has prostate cancer has ratcheted up their intensity.

Not to worry, says Buffett. It was detected early, his four doctors—yes, they’re shareholders—tell him he won’t require any hospitalization or even miss any time away from work.

“I’m feeling terrific, I always feel terrific. I love what I do and I work with people I love. I seem to have a great immune system. As any fool can see, I’m eating properly,” he says.

Throughout the meeting, Buffett snacked on See’s fudge and drank Cherry Coke.

He reiterated his intention to split his duties and have a CEO and at least two people handling investments when he retires or dies. Todd Combs and Ted Weschler have already been tapped for the investment duties.

“I am the chief risk officer at Berkshire. My successor will have the same responsibility. We would not select anybody for that job that didn’t have those skills. We’re not going to have an arts major in charge of Berkshire,” he says.

On a number of occasions, Buffett said the company will be in good hands when he dies.

“I just hope we don’t find out how good too soon,” he says. “Maybe I’ll get shot by a jealous husband, but this is a really minor thing,” he says.

Charlie Munger, Berkshire’s vice-chair, joked that he resents all the attention Buffett is getting over his cancer diagnosis.

“I probably have more prostate cancer than he does, but I don’t know because I don’t let them test for it,” he says.