Warren Buffett has served as chairman and chief executive of Berkshire Hathaway.
Buffett became closely associated with Berkshire Hathaway after his investment partnership acquired shares in the textile company during the 1960s. He eventually transformed Berkshire into a diversified holding company with insurance operations, railroads, utilities, manufacturing businesses, and large investments in publicly traded companies.
Berkshire Hathaway is unusual among very large companies because its market value reflects both wholly owned subsidiaries and a substantial portfolio of stocks. The company is also known for having Class A shares with an exceptionally high per-share price and Class B shares created to make ownership more accessible.
Charlie Munger was Buffett’s longtime business partner and Berkshire’s vice chairman, but he was not the company’s chief executive. Buffett’s leadership and capital-allocation record are central reasons Berkshire is so frequently discussed in market-cap and investing history.