Berkshire Hathaway, one of the world's most valuable companies by market capitalization, was led by Warren Buffett from 1965.
Buffett began acquiring shares in the Massachusetts textile company Berkshire Hathaway in the early 1960s. After taking control, he shifted the business away from textiles and toward insurance, investments, and ownership of operating companies. Berkshire's modern structure grew from that transformation.
The company became known for its decentralized subsidiaries, large stock portfolio, and annual shareholder meeting in Omaha, Nebraska. Buffett served for decades as chairman and chief executive, while Charlie Munger was a major business partner and vice chairman.
Buffett did not found Berkshire Hathaway, and he was not its original textile operator. The 1965 date identifies the year he took control of the company that became his investment conglomerate.