Berkshire Hathaway is an American multinational conglomerate holding company with roots in textile manufacturing dating back to 1839.
It controls over 60 subsidiaries and holds major stakes in Apple, Coca-Cola, and American Express.
Headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, the company ranks among the world's largest publicly traded firms by market capitalization.
About Berkshire Hathaway
Sector
Financial Services
Industry
Conglomerate / Holding
CEO
Greg Abel
Website
berkshirehathaway.com
Headquarters
Omaha, NE
Founded
1839
Status
Public (NYSE: BRK.A, BRK.B)
Berkshire Hathaway Founders
Oliver Chace
Founder, Original Textile Company (1839)
Horatio Hathaway
Founder, Hathaway Manufacturing Company
Warren Buffett
Controlling Shareholder & Architect of Modern Berkshire (1965)
Berkshire Hathaway History
1839
Oliver Chace founded the original textile manufacturing company in Rhode Island.
1955
Berkshire Fine Spinning Associates merged with Hathaway Manufacturing to form Berkshire Hathaway.
1965
Warren Buffett gained controlling interest and began shifting away from textiles toward insurance and investments.
1967
Acquired National Indemnity Company for $8.6 million, entering the insurance business for the first time.
2010
Purchased Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad for $44 billion, the largest acquisition in company history at that time.
FAQs
Who owns Berkshire Hathaway?
Berkshire Hathaway is publicly traded on the NYSE under BRK.A and BRK.B. Warren Buffett holds approximately 38.4% of Class A voting shares. Greg Abel became CEO in January 2026, while Buffett stays on as chairman.
When did Berkshire Hathaway come out?
The company's origins date to 1839, when Oliver Chace founded a textile mill in Rhode Island. The Berkshire Hathaway name was created in 1955 through a merger. Warren Buffett took control in 1965.
Is Berkshire Hathaway an American company?
Yes. Berkshire Hathaway is an American multinational conglomerate holding company headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska. It trades on the New York Stock Exchange and is one of the largest U.S. public companies.
Who made Berkshire Hathaway logo?
The specific designer of Berkshire Hathaway's logo is not publicly credited. The wordmark uses Times New Roman Bold in dark blue on white and has remained virtually unchanged since the company's early years.
