Berkshire Hathaway, led for decades by Warren Buffett, is one of the world’s largest public companies by market value.
Berkshire Hathaway is a diversified holding company with businesses in insurance, railroads, utilities, energy, manufacturing, retail, and other sectors. Its insurance operations provide the capital known as “float,” which can be invested while claims are pending.
Warren Buffett became chairman and chief executive after building a major stake in the struggling textile company Berkshire Hathaway. He and Charlie Munger transformed it into an investment and operating conglomerate. Berkshire’s Class A shares are famous for their unusually high per-share price, while Class B shares make ownership more accessible.
The company is often discussed alongside the largest technology firms in market-cap rankings, even though its business mix is much broader. Its market value reflects both operating subsidiaries and a large portfolio of publicly traded investments.