Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK.B) is a diversified holding company with a wide array of business interests spanning insurance, utilities, transportation, manufacturing, retail and service operations. The company’s core business is built on its insurance and reinsurance operations, which generate significant float that is reinvested across its portfolio. Beyond insurance, Berkshire Hathaway owns one of North America’s largest freight rail networks through BNSF Railway, a major regulated utility and energy business via Berkshire Hathaway Energy, and a range of manufacturing operations producing everything from building products to industrial equipment.
Originally founded in 1839 as a textile manufacturing firm, Berkshire Hathaway evolved into an investment powerhouse under the leadership of Warren Buffett, who began acquiring shares in the early 1960s and assumed control in 1965. Over the ensuing decades, Buffett transformed the company’s textile roots into a broad-based conglomerate guided by a philosophy of value investing and decentralized management. The company has grown through both strategic acquisitions and the disciplined reinvestment of cash flows generated by its subsidiaries.
Leadership at Berkshire Hathaway is anchored by Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Warren E. Buffett, widely recognized for his long-term investment approach and capital allocation expertise. Vice Chairman Charlie Munger provides decades of strategic counsel, while a seasoned team of operating leaders oversees each business segment. Key executives include Greg Abel, who manages the non-insurance business segments, and Ajit Jain, who leads the global insurance operations, ensuring continuity and depth across the company’s diverse holdings.
Berkshire Hathaway’s portfolio spans both domestic and international markets, with its subsidiaries serving consumers and businesses in a variety of industries. Its decentralized structure empowers each business to operate autonomously while benefiting from centralized capital allocation and financial strength. Through well-known brands such as GEICO, Dairy Queen, Marmon Group and NetJets, the company maintains a strong presence in its core markets, all while seeking new opportunities that align with its long-term investment criteria.
