Berkshire Hathaway is the investment company led for decades by Warren Buffett and known for owning GEICO and BNSF Railway.
Berkshire Hathaway began as a textile manufacturer formed from the 1955 merger of Berkshire Fine Spinning Associates and Hathaway Manufacturing. Warren Buffett acquired shares during the 1960s and eventually redirected the company toward insurance and investments.
Its insurance operations, including GEICO and reinsurance businesses, provide capital that Berkshire can invest. The company also owns operating businesses such as BNSF Railway, one of North America’s major freight rail systems, and Berkshire Hathaway Energy.
Berkshire is often described as a conglomerate rather than a conventional investment fund. It owns subsidiaries outright and also holds large publicly traded stakes. Its Class A shares are famous for their exceptionally high price, while Class B shares provide a more accessible ownership route.