Berkshire Hathaway is Warren Buffett's conglomerate and owns businesses including GEICO and BNSF Railway.
Berkshire began as a textile manufacturing company formed through the 1955 merger of Berkshire Fine Spinning Associates and Hathaway Manufacturing. Warren Buffett began buying shares in the 1960s and eventually transformed the struggling textile business into a diversified holding company.
Its major operations and investments have included insurance, rail transportation, energy, manufacturing, retail, and large stakes in publicly traded companies. GEICO is its well-known automobile insurer, while BNSF Railway is one of North America's largest freight railroad systems.
Berkshire is unusual among giant companies because it has historically emphasized decentralized management and retained earnings rather than paying a regular cash dividend. Its Class A shares are famous for their exceptionally high per-share price, while Class B shares provide a more accessible ownership option.