Berkshire Hathaway became the first U.S. non-technology company to reach a $1 trillion market value in 2024.
Berkshire crossed the threshold in late August 2024, reflecting investor confidence in its diversified collection of businesses and investments. The company is led by Warren Buffett, who transformed a struggling textile manufacturer into a large holding company after acquiring control in the 1960s.
Its operations and investments span insurance, rail transport, utilities, manufacturing, retail, and financial assets. Major businesses associated with Berkshire include GEICO, BNSF Railway, Berkshire Hathaway Energy, and numerous manufacturing and consumer companies.
The original Berkshire Hathaway began as a textile business formed through the 1955 merger of Berkshire Fine Spinning Associates and Hathaway Manufacturing. Buffett’s Berkshire is therefore much more than a single operating brand, and its market value reflects both subsidiaries and a large portfolio of publicly traded shares.