History of Berkshire Hathaway in Timeline

Berkshire Hathaway is a multinational conglomerate holding company, originally a textile manufacturer, transformed under Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger starting in 1965. Headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, it has grown into a diverse investment powerhouse. Buffett owns a significant portion of the company's voting shares. Greg Abel succeeded Buffett as CEO at the beginning of 2026.

1978: Charlie Munger served as vice chairman of the company

Charlie Munger served as vice chairman of the company from 1978 until his death on November 28, 2023.

August 26, 1983: Shares closed over $1,000 for the first time

On August 26, 1983, Berkshire Hathaway shares closed over $1,000 for the first time.

1989: Buffett invested in US Airways

In 1989, Warren Buffett invested in US Airways, which almost resulted in a substantial loss for Berkshire Hathaway, despite ultimately selling for a profit.

October 16, 1992: Shares closed over $10,000

On October 16, 1992, Berkshire Hathaway shares closed over $10,000 for the first time.

1996: Berkshire Hathaway created Class B shares

In 1996, Berkshire Hathaway created Class B shares, with a per-share value of 1⁄30 of that of the original shares and 1⁄200 of the per-share voting rights to thwart creation of unit investment trusts marketing themselves as Berkshire look-alikes.

October 23, 2006: Shares closed over $100,000

On October 23, 2006, Berkshire Hathaway shares closed over $100,000 for the first time.

2008: David L. Sokol served as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Energy

Until early 2008, David L. Sokol served as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Energy and was considered a top lieutenant for Warren Buffett.

January 2010: After the January 2010 split, at 1⁄1,500 the price and 1⁄10,000 the voting rights of the Class-A shares

After the January 2010 split, Class B shares are worth at 1⁄1,500 the price and 1⁄10,000 the voting rights of the Class-A shares

January 2010: Berkshire completed a stock split of its Class B shares

In January 2010, Berkshire Hathaway completed a 50-to-1 stock split of its Class B shares as part of the acquisition of BNSF Railway. This increased market liquidity, resulting in the company's inclusion in the S&P 500.

October 2010: Todd Combs joined Berkshire as an investment manager

In October 2010, Berkshire Hathaway announced that Todd Combs, a 39-year-old manager of the hedge fund Castle Point Capital, would join the company as an investment manager.

2011: David L. Sokol resigned from Berkshire Hathaway

In 2011, David L. Sokol, who was paid $24 million per year, resigned from Berkshire Hathaway after it was disclosed that he personally made a $3 million profit from Berkshire Hathaway's purchase of Lubrizol.

2012: Ted Weschler joined Berkshire as an investment manager

In early 2012, Ted Weschler, the 50-year-old founder of Peninsula Capital Advisors, joined Berkshire Hathaway as a second investment manager.

2013: Berkshire and 3G Capital acquired H. J. Heinz Company

In 2013, Berkshire Hathaway and 3G Capital acquired H. J. Heinz Company for $28 billion, including debt.

2013: Berkshire sold its shares of Gannett

In 2013, Berkshire Hathaway sold its 1.74 million shares of Gannett, a media company, during the second quarter.

August 14, 2014: Shares closed over $200,000

On August 14, 2014, Berkshire Hathaway shares closed over $200,000 for the first time.

2015: Heinz merged with Kraft Foods to form Kraft Heinz

In 2015, Heinz merged with Kraft Foods, resulting in the formation of Kraft Heinz.

June 2016: Berkshire increased its stake in Apple Inc.

By the end of June 2016, Berkshire Hathaway had increased its stake in Apple Inc. to 15.2 million shares (0.3% of Apple).

2016: Berkshire made equity investments in major US airlines

In the third quarter of 2016, Berkshire Hathaway surprised investors by making large equity investments in major US airlines.

December 31, 2016: Berkshire built up a stake in Apple

By December 31, 2016, Berkshire Hathaway had amassed a stake of 57.4 million shares (1.1% of Apple) with an estimated average acquisition price of $110 per share (before the 2020 4:1 split).

March 31, 2017: Berkshire amassed a stake in Apple

By March 31, 2017, Berkshire Hathaway had amassed a stake of 129 million shares (2.5% of Apple).

June 2017: Berkshire acquired a stake in Home Capital Group

In June 2017, Berkshire Hathaway acquired a 38.4% stake in Home Capital Group for $400 million, providing a lifeline to the Toronto-based mortgage lender.

June 2017: Berkshire invested in Store Capital

In June 2017, Berkshire Hathaway invested $377 million in Store Capital, a Scottsdale-based real estate investment trust that owned more than 1,750 properties in 48 states.

2017: Berkshire was the largest shareholder in United Airlines and Delta Air Lines

In 2017, Berkshire Hathaway was the largest shareholder in United Airlines and Delta Air Lines and a top 3 shareholder in Southwest Airlines and American Airlines.

December 31, 2017: Berkshire owned 166 million shares of Apple

By December 31, 2017, Berkshire Hathaway owned 166 million shares (3.3% of Apple).

January 2018: Ajit Jain and Greg Abel appointed to vice-chairman roles

In January 2018, Berkshire Hathaway appointed Ajit Jain and Greg Abel to vice-chairman roles. Greg Abel was appointed vice chairman for non-insurance business operations, and Ajit Jain became vice chairman of insurance operations.

2018: Berkshire sold its shares in Home Capital Group

In 2018, Berkshire Hathaway sold its shares in Home Capital Group.

2018: Berkshire bought 75 million more shares of Apple

In early 2018, Berkshire Hathaway bought 75 million more shares of Apple.

September 2019: Berkshire began buying stock of Japanese sogo shosha

Between September 2019 and August 2020, Berkshire Hathaway, through its National Indemnity subsidiary, began buying more than 5% of the outstanding stock of each of the five largest Japanese sogo shosha (Itochu, Mitsubishi, Mitsui, Sumitomo, and Marubeni).

2019: Berkshire provided financing to Occidental Petroleum

In 2019, Berkshire Hathaway provided $10 billion in financing to Occidental Petroleum, through warrants and preferred stock, as part of Occidental's acquisition of Anadarko Petroleum.

2019: Buffett said that he overpaid in the deal

In 2019, Warren Buffett stated that he believed Berkshire Hathaway overpaid in the deal to acquire H. J. Heinz Company.

April 2020: Berkshire sold all shares in airlines

In April 2020, Berkshire Hathaway sold all of its shares in airlines due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on commercial air transport.

August 2020: Berkshire owned stakes in Japanese sogo shosha

Between September 2019 and August 2020, Berkshire Hathaway bought more than 5% of the outstanding stock of each of the five largest Japanese sogo shosha (Itochu, Mitsubishi, Mitsui, Sumitomo, and Marubeni) through its National Indemnity subsidiary. As of August 2020, these stakes were worth a total of over $6 billion.

2020: Apple stock split

In 2020, Apple had a 4:1 stock split.

2020: Berkshire added a position in Barrick Gold and agreed to buy Dominion Energy's operations

In the second quarter of 2020, Berkshire Hathaway added a position of more than 20 million shares in Barrick Gold. In the third quarter of 2020, the company agreed to buy Dominion Energy's natural gas transmission and storage operations.

May 2021: Buffett named Greg Abel as his successor

In May 2021, Warren Buffett named Greg Abel as his successor as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway.

2021: Berkshire sold its shares in Barrick Gold

In 2021, Berkshire Hathaway sold its position in Barrick Gold, which had been acquired in the second quarter of 2020.

March 16, 2022: Shares closed over $500,000

On March 16, 2022, Berkshire Hathaway shares closed over $500,000 for the first time.

2022: Berkshire began investing in common shares of Occidental

In 2022, Berkshire Hathaway began investing in common shares of Occidental Petroleum and has increased its position since.

2022: Store Capital was sold to private equity firms

In 2022, Store Capital, in which Berkshire Hathaway had invested, was sold to private equity firms.

2022: Berkshire acquired shares of HP Inc.

In the first quarter of 2022, Berkshire Hathaway acquired 121 million shares of HP Inc., valued at more than $4.2 billion.

2022: Berkshire acquired a stake in Paramount Global

In the first quarter of 2022, Berkshire Hathaway acquired a $2.6 billion stake in Paramount Global.

2022: Berkshire bought shares in TSMC

In the third quarter of 2022, Berkshire Hathaway bought 60 million shares in TSMC valued at $4.1 billion.

December 31, 2022: Berkshire owned 5.8% of Apple

As of December 31, 2022, Berkshire Hathaway owned 5.8% of Apple.

April 2023: Berkshire increased its stake in Japanese companies

By April 2023, Berkshire Hathaway increased its stake in each of the five largest Japanese sogo shosha (Itochu, Mitsubishi, Mitsui, Sumitomo, and Marubeni) to 7.4%.

November 28, 2023: Charlie Munger Death

On November 28, 2023, Charlie Munger, who served as vice chairman of the company from 1978, died.

2023: Berkshire began investing in Chubb Limited

Berkshire Hathaway began investing in Chubb Limited in 2023.

2023: Berkshire sold shares of HP Inc.

In 2023, Berkshire Hathaway sold some of its shares of HP Inc.

May 4, 2024: Buffett stated he sold all of his shares in Paramount

At an annual meeting on May 4, 2024, Warren Buffett stated that Berkshire Hathaway had sold all of its shares in Paramount at a substantial loss, blaming himself for the investment decision.

2024: Berkshire owned a 6.4% stake in Chubb Limited

By 2024, Berkshire Hathaway owned a 6.4% stake in Chubb Limited, worth $6.7 billion.

2024: Berkshire sold shares of HP Inc.

In 2024, Berkshire Hathaway sold some of its shares of HP Inc.

2024: Berkshire Hathaway bought shares of Constellation Brands

In the fourth quarter of 2024, Berkshire Hathaway bought 5.62 million shares of Constellation Brands, worth $1.24 billion, becoming its sixth-largest shareholder.

2024: Berkshire Hathaway liquidated all of its ETF holdings

In the fourth quarter of 2024, Berkshire Hathaway liquidated all of its ETF holdings in the S&P 500, worth a total of $44 million.

2024: Berkshire Hathaway sold its stake in Ulta Beauty

In the fourth quarter of 2024, Berkshire Hathaway sold its stake in Ulta Beauty, just two quarters after acquiring the shares.

2024: Berkshire reduced its Apple stake

In the second quarter of 2024, Berkshire Hathaway reduced its Apple stake by nearly 50%, selling $75.5 billion worth of stock, and increasing its cash reserves to a record $276.9 billion.