Which company was the first non-technology U.S. company to reach a $1 trillion market capitalization?

Berkshire Hathaway was the first non-technology U.S. company to reach a $1 trillion market capitalization.

Berkshire Hathaway crossed the $1 trillion mark in August 2024, becoming the first U.S. company outside the technology sector to attain that valuation. The milestone highlighted the scale of its insurance operations, industrial businesses, investments, and large portfolio of publicly traded shares.

Warren Buffett transformed Berkshire from a struggling textile manufacturer into a diversified holding company. Its major businesses have included GEICO, BNSF Railway, Berkshire Hathaway Energy, and numerous manufacturing, retail, and service companies.

Berkshire’s structure differs from that of a typical technology giant because it owns entire operating businesses as well as financial assets. The company’s Class A shares are famously expensive on a per-share basis, but per-share price is not the same as market capitalization; the total share count must also be considered.