Billionaire tech investor and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway is preparing to step down. The 95-year-old chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, said on Monday that “becoming old” is “not to be denied” as he prepares to end his tenure as CEO of the legendary investment company.
“To my surprise, I generally feel good. Though I move slowly and read with increasing difficulty, I am at the office five days a week, where I work with wonderful people,” Buffet wrote. “I was late in becoming old … but once it appears, it is not to be denied.”
The billionaire, dubbed the Oracle of Omaha for his long run of money-spinning stock picks, also gave a rare update on his health before his hand-picked successor, Greg Abel, takes over at the end of this year.
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Born on August 30, 1930, in Omaha, Nebraska, Buffet showed an early talent for business and investing, purchasing his first stock at age 11. He studied at the University of Nebraska and later under Benjamin Graham at Columbia University, where he absorbed the principles of value investing: buying undervalued companies with strong fundamentals and holding them long-term. Early in his career, Buffett applied these principles through investment partnerships, steadily building his expertise and reputation for disciplined, patient investing.
Berkshire Hathaway, a New England textile manufacturer formed in 1955 from the merger of Hathaway Manufacturing and Berkshire Fine Spinning Associates, was struggling financially by the early 1960s. Buffett began purchasing shares in 1962, initially drawn by the company’s liquidation value. By 1965, he had taken majority control, shifting the company’s focus from textiles to investments and acquisitions.
Buffett transformed Berkshire Hathaway into a diversified holding company, acquiring insurance businesses like GEICO, railroads such as BNSF Railway, utilities, and consumer brands, while maintaining a disciplined approach to capital allocation.
Buffett’s philosophy emphasizes investing in companies with durable competitive advantages, competent management, and clear intrinsic value. Over decades, this approach turned Berkshire Hathaway into a multibillion-dollar conglomerate, demonstrating the power of long-term value investing.
As of 2025, the company remains a benchmark for investors worldwide, with Buffett’s careful stewardship leaving a legacy of disciplined investing, strategic acquisitions, and the importance of patience, integrity, and vision in business.
Berkshire Hathaway, under Warren Buffett, is famous for its disciplined acquisition strategy, focusing on durable, cash-generating businesses. Among its largest wholly-owned purchases, Precision Castparts for around $37.2 billion in 2016 stands out. Similarly, the BNSF Railway acquisition in 2010, valued at approximately $34 billion including debt, marked Berkshire’s biggest move into transportation. The exact figure varies depending on whether assumed debt and previously held shares are included.
Other major acquisitions include Heinz/Kraft Heinz ($28 billion, 2013), General Re ($22 billion, 1998), and Alleghany Corporation ($11.6 billion, 2022), highlighting Berkshire’s continued focus on insurance and reinsurance.
Berkshire has also made significant investments in utilities and energy. Purchases such as Dominion Energy’s gas transmission assets ($10 billion, 2020) and Pacificorp ($9.4 billion, 2005) reflect Buffett’s preference for stable, regulated industries. Exact deal values may differ depending on the source. These acquisitions provide predictable cash flow and long-term stability, aligning with the company’s conservative investment philosophy.
In chemicals and manufacturing, the $9.7 billion acquisition of Lubrizol in 2011 added exposure to specialty chemicals, complementing Berkshire’s industrial and consumer businesses. These acquisitions demonstrate Buffett’s focus on companies with strong competitive advantages, predictable earnings, and capable management.
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Berkshire’s approach is not limited to wholly-owned acquisitions. The company has long been renowned for its strategic minority equity stakes, most notably in Coca-Cola (since 1988) and Apple (since 2016). These are long-term investments rather than full acquisitions, with Apple now being Berkshire’s largest public-equity holding. Such positions allow Berkshire to benefit from high-performing companies while maintaining portfolio diversification.
Buffett’s philosophy emphasizes acquiring businesses with durable competitive advantages and strong cash flow. He favors companies with consistent earnings, capable management, and simple business models. This strategy has guided Berkshire in blending wholly-owned companies with minority stakes to create a diversified and resilient investment portfolio.
Even with large-scale acquisitions, Berkshire maintains a conservative financial structure. Some figures in acquisitions may not reflect the very latest 2025 adjustments, such as impairments or changes in stake values, particularly for Kraft Heinz. This transparency ensures the company’s financial stability while pursuing long-term growth opportunities.