Berkshire Hathaway Turns 61 Under Buffett’s Shadow

Benzinga reported Sunday that investor and market commentator Shay Boloor marked a striking milestone. Sixty-one years ago on May 10, 1965, Warren Buffett seized control of Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A). A $10,000 stake entered at roughly $15 per share that day would now be worth an estimated $485 million.

The Math Behind Buffett’s Berkshire Legacy

That figure is a testament to the raw power of compounding over decades. Buffett did not build Berkshire through a single dramatic bet. He built it trade by trade, acquisition by acquisition, over more than six decades. The number Boloor put on the record underscores why long-term investing, done with patience and discipline, remains the most reliable wealth-creation engine available to ordinary investors. Few fund managers or executives in market history can point to a comparable run.

Also Read: Berkshire Hathaway 2025 Annual Letter

How Berkshire Got Here: Six Decades of Capital Discipline

Buffett took the helm of what was then a struggling New England textile business. He gradually redirected capital toward insurance, railroads, energy, and a sprawling collection of wholly owned subsidiaries. The strategy was always the same: buy good businesses at fair prices, hold them, and let earnings compound. By the 2025 annual shareholder meeting, Buffett was already signaling that his succession plan was complete. He made clear that incoming CEO Greg Abel was not chosen for charisma. Abel’s job, as Buffett framed it, is to protect the culture of trust and restrained capital allocation that underpins everything Berkshire does.

Also Read: S&P 500 Performance Tracker

Greg Abel’s Early Scorecard

Abel formally took the CEO role at the start of 2026. The early numbers are not flattering. Berkshire shares have declined roughly 7% over the past twelve months, while the S&P 500 has gained more than 26% over the same stretch. That gap is not necessarily a verdict on Abel’s leadership. Berkshire’s sheer size limits the portfolio agility available to smaller operators. Still, the underperformance will attract scrutiny as Abel seeks to demonstrate that Buffett’s institutional culture can outlive its architect.

The $485 million thought experiment is ultimately a reminder of what is at stake. Berkshire is not just a company. It is the longest-running proof of concept for patient capitalism.

Read Next: What Buffett’s Successor Inherits Beyond the Balance Sheet