Half a century: Buffett celebrates 50th year at Berkshire
Berkshire Hathaway Chairman and CEO Warren Buffett. PHOTO: AFP
Berkshire Hathaway Inc shareholders on Saturday celebrated Warren Buffett’s 50th anniversary running the conglomerate, as the billionaire fielded questions about the company and its future, and explained some business practices.
Berkshire owns more than 80 companies including the Burlington Northern railroad, Geico car insurance, Benjamin Moore paint, Dairy Queen ice cream, Fruit of the Loom underwear, and See’s candies, and owns more than $115 billion of stocks.
But Buffett’s status as an investing legend, and his plain talk and humor, are key reasons why people trek to Omaha for what Buffett calls ‘Woodstock for Capitalists’.
Berkshire’s annual meeting is Omaha’s top annual draw other than baseball’s College World Series - reflected in hotel rooms that can fetch more than $400 a night and often sell out nearly a year in advance.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 3rd, 2015.