Berkshire Hathaway is the investment company with Warren Buffett as its longtime chairman and many operating businesses.
Berkshire Hathaway began as a textile manufacturer formed through the 1955 merger of Berkshire Fine Spinning Associates and Hathaway Manufacturing Company. Warren Buffett began buying shares in 1962 and eventually took control, shifting the company away from textiles toward insurance and investments.
Insurance became central to Berkshire's structure. Its businesses have included GEICO, General Re, and Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group, while its non-insurance operations have included BNSF Railway, Berkshire Hathaway Energy, and manufacturing and retail companies.
Berkshire is often described as a conglomerate rather than a conventional mutual fund or bank. It owns operating subsidiaries and also holds a portfolio of publicly traded shares. Charlie Munger served as Buffett's longtime business partner and vice chairman until his death in 2023.