Berkshire Hathaway Inc
A decentralized holding company whose businesses span insurance (GEICO), freight rail (BNSF Railway), utilities, manufacturing, and services. It began as a New England textile maker, formed by the 1955 merger of Berkshire Fine Spinning Associates and Hathaway Manufacturing, named for Berkshire County and founder Horatio Hathaway. Warren Buffett took control in 1965 after management lowballed a share buyback offer, buying the company out of spite.