History of Berkshire Hathaway: from founding to today
Reviewed by the editorial team · Updated 4 Nov 2026 · Last verified 3 Nov 2026 · 1 min read
Quick answer
Berkshire grew out of a New England textile mill. Warren Buffett took control in 1965, bought insurers and dozens of companies, and retired as CEO at the end of 2025 24.
Founded1965, Omaha, Nebraska
StatusListed
Listed onNYSE: BRK.B
Market cap$1.19T
Revenue$371.4B (FY2024)
1839–1965: textiles
Its roots go back to the Valley Falls Company, founded in 1839. Berkshire Fine Spinning merged with Hathaway Manufacturing in 1955 to form Berkshire Hathaway 4.
1965–2000: Buffett takes over
Buffett began buying shares in 1962 and took control in 1965. He bought National Indemnity in 1967, See's Candies in 1972 and all of GEICO in 1996, and closed the textile business in 1985 4.
2000–2026: the giant
It bought BNSF in 2010, Precision Castparts in 2016 and Alleghany in 2022. Buffett retired as CEO at the end of 2025 and Howard Buffett became chairman in September 2026 24.
Frequently asked questions
It comes from the 1955 merger of two textile makers, Berkshire Fine Spinning and Hathaway Manufacturing.
