Warren Buffett’s road to investing glory

In September 2025, Warren Buffett, the legendary investor and former CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, announced his decision to step down from his role as chairman. This marks the end of his executive duties at the conglomerate he helped build into one of the world's largest. At 96 years old, Buffett will assume the honorary title of chairman emeritus, a position that typically does not involve decision-making responsibilities. However, he will continue to serve on the board and share his insights.

Buffett's journey with Berkshire began in 1965 when he took over the struggling New England textile company after a dispute with prior management. Despite the textile business closing in 1985, it set the foundation for the company's future success. In 1967, Berkshire acquired National Indemnity, a move that would eventually become a key financial engine for the company.

Over the years, Buffett made several noteworthy investments. In 1988, he purchased a significant stake in Coca-Cola, an investment that remains one of the company's largest to date. He also heavily invested in Gillette in 1989, favoring straightforward businesses that were easy to comprehend.

Buffett's leadership extended to other sectors as well. In 1991, he stepped in as interim chairman of Salomon Brothers during a trading scandal, helping to save the investment bank. Between 1996 and 2000, Berkshire expanded aggressively into insurance, acquiring GEICO and General Re, which solidified its position in the sector. In 1999, he entered the utilities industry with the acquisition of MidAmerican Energy.

In 2006, Buffett pledged to donate nearly all of his Berkshire stock to philanthropic causes, having contributed over half of his shares since. Between 2008 and 2011, Berkshire invested heavily in Goldman Sachs and Bank of America during the global financial crisis, later profiting from these investments. In 2010, Berkshire acquired the railroad Burlington Northern Santa Fe for $26.4 billion.

In 2016, Berkshire began accumulating Apple, which eventually became the largest holding in Berkshire's portfolio. In 2022, Berkshire deployed substantial funds into large stock purchases of companies like Chevron, HP Inc, and Occidental Petroleum. By the end of 2025, Berkshire's market value had topped $1 trillion, making it the first non-tech US company to reach this milestone.