Of course! Let's dive into the fascinating world of Berkshire Hathaway's diverse holdings. It's a question that many people ask, and the answer is more complex and interesting than you might think. So, are you ready to uncover the vast empire built by Warren Buffett?
Step 1: Understanding the Difference: Properties vs. Companies
First things first, we need to clarify a common misconception. When you ask "how many properties does Berkshire Hathaway own," you might be thinking of physical buildings like office towers, apartment complexes, or retail spaces. While Berkshire Hathaway does have significant real estate interests, the term "properties" in the context of its portfolio often refers to the entire businesses it owns.
So, let's start with a crucial distinction:
Wholly Owned Subsidiaries: These are companies that Berkshire Hathaway owns 100% of. Think of them as the family jewels – they are a part of the Berkshire Hathaway family, with their operations fully integrated under the conglomerate's umbrella.
Equity Investments: These are shares in publicly traded companies that Berkshire Hathaway owns, but not the entire company. In these cases, Berkshire is a significant shareholder and has a say in the company's direction, but it doesn't own the entire "property" or business.
Got it? Great! Let's move on to the next step and explore these two categories in detail.
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| How Many Properties Does Berkshire Hathaway Own |
Step 2: Exploring the Wholly Owned Properties (The Subsidiaries)
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This is where the list gets truly impressive. Berkshire Hathaway owns a stunning number of companies, and the list is constantly evolving. As of mid-2025, the number of wholly owned subsidiaries is well over 60, spanning a huge range of industries.
Sub-heading: A Glimpse into the Diverse Portfolio
Let's look at some key examples to give you a sense of the sheer variety:
Insurance: This is the foundation of Berkshire Hathaway's empire. Companies like GEICO (the well-known auto insurance company), General Re, and the National Indemnity Company provide a massive "float" of cash that Warren Buffett uses for investments.
Manufacturing, Service, and Retail: This is a sprawling category with a wide array of businesses. It includes:
Duracell: Yes, the battery giant is a Berkshire company!
Fruit of the Loom: The iconic apparel brand.
International Dairy Queen: Craving a Blizzard? You're supporting a Berkshire company.
See's Candies: A sweet and profitable business.
Precision Castparts Corp. (PCC): A major supplier to the aerospace industry.
Clayton Homes: One of the largest builders of manufactured homes in the U.S.
Regulated Capital-Intensive Businesses: This includes businesses that require a lot of capital to operate, but have a strong competitive advantage.
BNSF Railway: One of the largest freight rail networks in North America. This is a massive asset, with thousands of miles of track and locomotives.
Berkshire Hathaway Energy: This is a huge energy company with a portfolio of utilities that generate and distribute power.
Real Estate Services: This is where you find the direct real estate connections.
HomeServices of America: This is a major real estate brokerage firm, and it's a collection of many different real estate companies across the United States. Through this subsidiary, Berkshire Hathaway has a hand in countless real estate transactions.
Berkshire Hathaway Residential Investments: This entity directly manages and owns a portfolio of real estate assets, primarily residential properties. It has a portfolio of approximately $32.5 billion in real estate assets under management, including around 460,000 residential units that are either owned, managed, or overseen across the U.S.
Step 3: Examining the Equity Investments (The Stakes in Other Companies)
This is the famous "stock portfolio" that gets so much media attention. While Berkshire Hathaway doesn't own these companies outright, its stake in them is massive, and they are a huge part of its overall value.
Tip: Reread complex ideas to fully understand them.
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Sub-heading: The "Big Five" and Beyond
As of the latest filings, Berkshire's equity portfolio is highly concentrated in a few key names, often referred to as the "Big Five" or "Big Six." These are companies that Warren Buffett and his team believe in for the long term.
Apple (AAPL): This is consistently Berkshire's largest holding by a significant margin. While Berkshire has trimmed its position, it remains a colossal investment, making up a huge chunk of the portfolio's value.
American Express (AXP): A long-standing holding that Buffett loves for its strong brand and business model.
Coca-Cola (KO): Another long-term holding that embodies Buffett's philosophy of investing in simple, powerful brands.
Bank of America (BAC): A major position in the financial sector.
Chevron (CVX) & Occidental Petroleum (OXY): Significant stakes in the energy sector, reflecting Buffett's outlook on the industry.
Beyond these top holdings, Berkshire holds dozens of other publicly traded stocks, including companies like Moody's, Kraft Heinz, and many more. The total number of equity holdings can fluctuate based on new purchases and sales.
Step 4: Putting It All Together: The Grand Total
So, how many "properties" does Berkshire Hathaway own?
Tip: Look for small cues in wording.
There is no single, simple number. It's a moving target and depends on how you define "property."
If you mean wholly owned companies: The number is over 60, and this list is updated periodically as new acquisitions are made.
If you mean publicly traded stocks: The number of equity holdings is typically in the dozens, with the top five or six making up the lion's share of the portfolio's value.
If you mean specific physical real estate properties: Through its Berkshire Residential Investments subsidiary, it owns or manages approximately 460,000 residential units, and through HomeServices of America, it facilitates countless real estate transactions, making its footprint in the real estate market massive.
In short, Berkshire Hathaway's ownership extends across a vast and diverse range of businesses and physical assets, making it a true conglomerate with properties of all shapes and sizes.
10 Related FAQ Questions
Here are 10 related FAQ questions that start with 'How to' with quick answers:
How to find a complete list of Berkshire Hathaway's subsidiaries? You can find a list of Berkshire Hathaway's operating companies on its official website, often under the "Links to Berkshire Operating Companies" section. This is the best place for an official, though sometimes not fully exhaustive, list.
How to invest in Berkshire Hathaway's real estate? You cannot directly invest in Berkshire Hathaway's real estate portfolio as a separate entity. However, by buying shares of Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A or BRK.B), you are indirectly investing in all of its businesses, including its real estate subsidiaries like HomeServices of America and Berkshire Residential Investments.
Tip: Take your time with each sentence.
How to know which stocks Berkshire Hathaway is buying? Berkshire Hathaway's equity holdings are publicly disclosed in a quarterly filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) called a 13F filing. These filings show the stocks held as of the end of the previous quarter.
How to buy shares in a Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary? You cannot buy shares in a privately held Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary like GEICO or See's Candies because they are not publicly traded companies. The only way to own a piece of these companies is to buy shares of the parent company, Berkshire Hathaway.
How to sell a property through a Berkshire Hathaway company? You can sell a property through a Berkshire Hathaway company by using one of the real estate brokerage firms that are part of the HomeServices of America network, such as Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices.
How to get a job at a Berkshire Hathaway owned company? You would apply directly to the individual company you are interested in. For example, if you want to work at Duracell, you would apply through Duracell's career website, not Berkshire Hathaway's.
How to become a supplier to a Berkshire Hathaway company? You would need to contact the specific subsidiary company directly and go through their procurement and supplier onboarding process.
How to understand Berkshire Hathaway's investment philosophy? Warren Buffett's investment philosophy, known as "value investing," focuses on buying shares of excellent businesses at a fair price and holding them for the long term. He looks for companies with a durable competitive advantage, a strong management team, and a solid financial history.
How to find the latest news on Berkshire Hathaway's acquisitions? The latest news on Berkshire Hathaway's acquisitions is typically announced through press releases and disclosed in the company's quarterly and annual reports filed with the SEC. Financial news outlets and business publications also cover these announcements extensively.
How to know if Berkshire Hathaway owns a specific company? The easiest way is to search online for "[company name] owned by Berkshire Hathaway" or to check the official list of subsidiaries on the Berkshire Hathaway website. You can also review Berkshire Hathaway's annual reports and filings for details on their holdings.
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