Warren Buffett acquired Berkshire Hathaway as a struggling textile business and built it into a major investment conglomerate.
Buffett began buying shares in the textile company in the 1960s and took control in 1965. He eventually shifted the business away from textiles and used its cash-generating insurance operations to acquire companies and investments.
Berkshire Hathaway now owns or invests in businesses across insurance, railroads, utilities, energy, manufacturing, retail, and consumer products. Its portfolio has included GEICO, BNSF Railway, and many publicly traded companies.
Unlike many technology leaders, Berkshire has generally not paid a regular cash dividend. Investors often view its market value as a reflection of the assets, earnings, and capital-allocation record accumulated under Buffett and longtime colleague Charlie Munger.