Berkshire Hathaway is the investment company led by Warren Buffett that is headquartered in Omaha and ranks among the world's most valuable public companies.
The modern Berkshire Hathaway grew from a struggling New England textile manufacturer into a diversified holding company. Buffett began accumulating shares in the 1960s and eventually transformed the business through acquisitions and long-term investments.
Berkshire owns or invests in businesses across insurance, railroads, utilities, manufacturing, retail, and finance. Its best-known wholly owned companies include GEICO, BNSF Railway, and Berkshire Hathaway Energy.
The company is commonly associated with Buffett, but Charlie Munger was also a major architect of its investment philosophy until his death in 2023. Berkshire's unusually high share price and large portfolio make it a frequent subject in market-capitalization comparisons, even though it is not primarily a technology company.