The Wall Street Journal states Warren Buffett’s announcement of having prostate cancer set the street buzzing with who may be his successor. Financial researchers culled the Oracle of Omaha’s annual letters to shareholders since 1977, some 400,000 words, and determined Ajit Jain, head of Berkshire’s reinsurance division, was mentioned the most, followed by Tony Nicely of GEICO, and Tad Montross, CEO of General Re. MHProNews.com has learned Kevin Clayton, CEO of Clayton Homes, was also mentioned as a possibility. Berkshire’s board knows, but the chosen one does not. Using a method that gauges praise-type words with names, Iscar CFO Danny Goldman ranks highest, followed by Nicely and Greg Abel of MidAmerican Energy. The article does point out, however, that several people Buffett has praised in the past no longer work for Berkshire.

(Image credit: Christophe Vorlet/Wall Street Journal)