Which company became the first non-technology US company to exceed US$1 trillion in market value?

Berkshire Hathaway became the first non-technology US company to exceed US$1 trillion in market value.

Berkshire Hathaway crossed the threshold in August 2024, making it the first US company outside the technology sector to receive a trillion-dollar market valuation. The company is led by Warren Buffett and operates as a diversified holding company rather than a single-product business.

Its major businesses include insurance, freight rail, utilities, energy, manufacturing, and retail. Berkshire also owns a large portfolio of publicly traded stocks, although its operating subsidiaries are central to its overall structure.

Berkshire’s milestone is often described as a contrast with the technology companies that dominated earlier trillion-dollar records. Its valuation reflected decades of retained earnings, disciplined acquisitions, insurance operations, and investments. Because Berkshire’s Class A shares are exceptionally expensive, the company’s Class B shares provide a lower-priced way for many investors to participate.