Which company did Warren Buffett build into a major conglomerate and market-cap heavyweight?

Warren Buffett built Berkshire Hathaway into a major conglomerate and market-cap heavyweight.

Berkshire Hathaway began as a Massachusetts textile company, but Buffett and Charlie Munger transformed it through acquisitions and investments. Buffett became chairman and chief executive in 1965, and the business increasingly focused on insurance, operating companies, and a large portfolio of public-company shares.

Its insurance operations, including GEICO and General Re, provide a source of investable funds often called float. Berkshire also owns or controls businesses in sectors such as railroads, energy, manufacturing, retail, and services. The company’s annual shareholder meeting in Omaha became a major event for investors.

Berkshire has two principal publicly traded share classes: Class A and Class B. Class A shares have a much higher price and greater voting power, but market capitalization counts the value of all outstanding shares together. The company is not simply an investment fund; it is a diversified operating conglomerate.