Berkshire Hathaway Inc., a multinational conglomerate holding company, was originally established as a group of textile manufacturing entities in the 1830s. It was later transformed by Warren Buffett, who began buying shares in the mid-1960s and eventually took control of the company. Under Buffett’s leadership, Berkshire Hathaway shifted its focus from textiles to insurance, investments, and the acquisition of other businesses. This pivot has grown the company into one of the largest and most respected in the world, known for its substantial insurance operations, which include GEICO and Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group.
Aside from its core insurance businesses, Berkshire Hathaway owns a diverse range of companies across various sectors. This includes utilities, rail transportation, and manufacturing and services. Notable holdings include the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway (BNSF), which is one of the largest railroad systems in North America, and energy firms under the Berkshire Hathaway Energy umbrella. The conglomerate also holds significant stakes in major companies such as Apple, Coca-Cola, and Bank of America, demonstrating a strategic investment approach that favors long-term, value-creating assets.
