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Berkshire Hathaway vs BlackRock: Founders, CEOs and History

Berkshire Hathaway was founded in 1839 by Oliver Chace, Warren Edward Buffett and is led by Greg Abel. BlackRock was founded in 1988 by Larry Fink, Robert S. Kapito, Susan Wagner and is led by Larry Fink.

Company facts

Berkshire Hathaway

Founded
1839
Headquarters
Omaha, Nebraska
Current CEO
Greg Abel
Employees
387,800

BlackRock

Founded
1988
Headquarters
New York, NY
Current CEO
Larry Fink
Employees
24,900

Founders

Berkshire Hathaway

  • Oliver Chace

    Berkshire Hathaway is famous not for the men who originally founded it, but for the man who conquered and reinvented it. The original company, the Valley Falls Company, was a textile manufacturer established by Oliver Chace in Rhode Island in 1839.

  • Warren Edward Buffett

    Warren Buffett effectively refounded Berkshire Hathaway beginning in 1965 when his investment partnership gained control of the struggling New England textile company and he became its chairman and CEO.

Berkshire Hathaway founders in full

BlackRock

  • Larry Fink

    Fink joined First Boston in 1976 and became one of its youngest managing directors, running a mortgage-bond desk that was highly profitable until a 1986 interest-rate move cost it about $100 million.

  • Robert S. Kapito

    Kapito worked alongside Fink at First Boston and joined him in founding BlackRock in 1988.

  • Susan Wagner

    Wagner ran many of the functions that let a small bond shop grow into a global firm, including strategy, corporate development and operations.

  • Barbara Novick

    For roughly BlackRock's first two decades Novick ran its global client business, winning the institutional mandates that funded the firm's early growth.

  • Ben Golub

    Golub led much of the quantitative work behind BlackRock's risk-first approach, building analytics for mortgage prepayment, interest-rate and credit risk that became central to Aladdin.

  • Hugh Frater

    Frater was one of the mortgage specialists who helped launch BlackRock's fixed income business and held senior roles at the firm before leaving.

  • Ralph Schlosstein

    Schlosstein brought corporate finance and public policy experience to the founding team; before Lehman he worked at the US Treasury and on the White House domestic policy staff during the Carter administration.

  • Keith Anderson

    Anderson ran BlackRock's fixed income investing for two decades, the core of the firm until iShares arrived with the 2009 BGI deal, and sat on its executive committee. In 2008 he left to become Chief Investment Officer of Soros Fund Management.

BlackRock founders in full

CEOs and their tenures

Berkshire Hathaway

  1. Seabury Stanton1955–1965

    President

    Stanton ran Hathaway Manufacturing from the 1930s and led the 1955 merger with Berkshire Fine Spinning Associates that created Berkshire Hathaway Inc. He closed plants and used liquidation proceeds to buy back stock as New England textiles declined.

    Source
  2. Warren Buffett1965–2025

    Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

    Buffett took control of Berkshire Hathaway in 1965 and turned a shrinking textile maker into a holding company built on insurance float.

    Source
  3. Greg Abel2026–present

    President and Chief Executive Officer

    Abel became President and CEO on January 1, 2026 after the board approved the succession in May 2025.

    Source
Berkshire Hathaway CEO history in full

BlackRock

  1. Larry Fink1988–present

    Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

    Fink co-founded BlackRock in 1988 and has run it for its entire history, taking it from a bond boutique to the world's largest asset manager.

    Source
  2. Susan Wagner1988–2012

    Co-Founder, Chief Operating Officer and Vice Chairman

    Co-founder who led strategy, corporate development and operations, including BlackRock's side of the MLIM merger and the BGI acquisition, before retiring from management in 2012 and joining the board.

    Source
  3. Robert S. Kapito2007–present

    President

    Co-founder who long ran BlackRock's Portfolio Management Group across fixed income, equity, liquidity and alternatives before becoming President in 2007, overseeing day-to-day operations.

    Source
  4. Rob Goldstein2014–present

    Chief Operating Officer

    Named COO in 2014 after running BlackRock's global institutional client business; oversees operations across the firm and sits on the management committee created in 2025.

    Source
  5. Martin Small2023–present

    Chief Financial Officer

    CFO since 2023; leads financial planning and investor reporting and has laid out the 2030 targets for private markets, technology and digital asset revenue on earnings calls.

    Source
  6. Adebayo Ogunlesi2024–present

    Chairman and CEO, Global Infrastructure Partners

    Founder of GIP who joined BlackRock's leadership when the deal closed in October 2024; leads its infrastructure business, including the Aligned Data Centers and AES transactions.

    Source
BlackRock CEO history in full

Timeline: Berkshire Hathaway and BlackRock side by side

  1. 1839Berkshire Hathaway

    Valley Falls Company Founded

    Oliver Chace founds the Valley Falls Company in Valley Falls, Rhode Island, as a cotton textile manufacturer. Chace had learned the trade working with Samuel Slater and built his first mill in 1806.

  2. 1955Berkshire Hathaway

    Berkshire Fine Spinning and Hathaway Manufacturing Merge

    Berkshire Fine Spinning Associates and Hathaway Manufacturing combine and take the Berkshire Hathaway name.

  3. 1962Berkshire Hathaway

    Buffett Partnership Buys Its First Berkshire Shares

    Buffett Partnership Ltd. buys its first Berkshire Hathaway shares in December 1962. Buffett was drawn to the pattern of Berkshire closing plants and using the liquidation proceeds to repurchase its own stock.

  4. 1964Berkshire Hathaway

    Tender Offer Dispute With Seabury Stanton

    Berkshire president Seabury Stanton asks Buffett at what price Buffett Partnership would sell, agrees to $11.50 a share, then mails a tender offer at $11.375.

  5. 1965Berkshire Hathaway

    Buffett Takes Control and Names Ken Chace President

    Buffett Partnership takes control of Berkshire Hathaway in May 1965 and Stanton leaves. Buffett selects Ken Chace, a long-time employee, as president to run the textile operation, and the cash it generates is pointed at other industries.

  6. 1967Berkshire Hathaway

    Entry Into Insurance With National Indemnity

    Early in 1967 Berkshire pays $8.6 million to buy National Indemnity Company and a small sister insurer from owner Jack Ringwalt.

  7. 1972Berkshire Hathaway

    See's Candies Bought for $25 Million

    Blue Chip Stamps, controlled by Buffett and Munger and later merged into Berkshire, buys See's Candies for $25 million.

  8. 1985Berkshire Hathaway

    Textile Operations Closed

    Buffett decides in July 1985 to close Berkshire's textile operation and the shutdown is largely complete by year end. He described it as finally throwing in the towel after twenty years of unremitting struggle with the business.

  9. 1988BlackRock

    Founded inside the Blackstone Group

    Larry Fink and seven partners start Blackstone Financial Management, a bond and risk-management unit backed by a $5 million credit line from the Blackstone Group.

  10. 1992BlackRock

    Renamed BlackRock

    The business takes the BlackRock name and ends the year managing about $17 billion in assets.

  11. 1994BlackRock

    Sold to PNC for $240 million

    After a dispute over equity for new hires, Blackstone sells BlackRock to PNC, which becomes its long-term majority owner.

  12. 1996Berkshire Hathaway

    GEICO Becomes Wholly Owned and Class B Shares Created

    Berkshire buys the remaining 49% of GEICO on January 2, 1996, having held 51%, and GEICO becomes a wholly owned subsidiary. Shareholders also approve a recapitalization creating Class B shares with the economic rights of one thirtieth of a Class A share.

  13. 1998Berkshire Hathaway

    General Re and Executive Jet Acquired

    Berkshire acquires reinsurer General Re and fractional-aircraft operator Executive Jet.

  14. 1999BlackRock

    NYSE IPO

    BlackRock lists on the New York Stock Exchange on October 1, 1999, at $14 per share.

  15. 2000BlackRock

    BlackRock Solutions launched

    BlackRock starts selling its internal risk analytics, later known as Aladdin, and advisory services to other institutions.

  16. 2006BlackRock

    Merger with Merrill Lynch Investment Managers

    The MLIM deal adds equity, retail and international businesses and gives Merrill Lynch a stake of nearly half of BlackRock.

  17. 2008BlackRock

    Hired to manage crisis assets

    The Federal Reserve Bank of New York hires BlackRock to manage the Maiden Lane portfolios taken over from Bear Stearns and AIG.

  18. 2009BlackRock

    Acquires Barclays Global Investors and iShares

    BlackRock closes its purchase of BGI on December 1, 2009, becoming the world's largest asset manager and taking over the iShares ETF business.

  19. 2010Berkshire Hathaway

    BNSF Railway Acquired

    Berkshire completes its purchase of Burlington Northern Santa Fe in the first quarter of 2010.

  20. 2016Berkshire Hathaway

    Precision Castparts Acquired

    Berkshire completes the purchase of Precision Castparts, an aerospace and industrial components maker, for $235 a share in cash.

  21. 2018Berkshire Hathaway

    Abel and Jain Named Vice Chairmen

    Berkshire's board expands from twelve to fourteen directors and elects Greg Abel and Ajit Jain.

  22. 2020BlackRock

    PNC exits its stake

    PNC sells its roughly 22% stake in BlackRock, leaving the company without a large controlling shareholder.

  23. 2022Berkshire Hathaway

    Alleghany Corporation Acquired

    Berkshire completes the acquisition of insurer Alleghany Corporation on October 19, 2022, paying $848.02 a share in cash for a total equity value of about $11.6 billion and adding the TransRe reinsurance business.

  24. 2023BlackRock

    Moves headquarters to 50 Hudson Yards

    BlackRock moves its New York headquarters to the 50 Hudson Yards tower on Manhattan's West Side.

  25. 2024Berkshire Hathaway

    Market Value Tops $1 Trillion

    Berkshire's market capitalization passes $1 trillion on August 28, 2024, making it the first US company outside the technology sector to reach that level.

  26. 2024Berkshire Hathaway

    Pilot Travel Centers Fully Owned

    Berkshire acquires the remaining 20% of Pilot Travel Centers on January 16, 2024 and takes full ownership. It had bought 38.6% in 2017 and a further 41.4% for about $8.2 billion in January 2023.

  27. 2024BlackRock

    iShares Bitcoin Trust launch and GIP deal

    BlackRock launches the iShares Bitcoin Trust in January and closes the roughly $12.5 billion purchase of Global Infrastructure Partners on October 1.

  28. 2025Berkshire Hathaway

    Board Approves Abel as CEO From January 2026

    Berkshire announces in May 2025 that Greg Abel will become President and Chief Executive Officer on January 1, 2026, with Warren Buffett remaining Chairman of the Board.

  29. 2025BlackRock

    HPS deal and record inflows

    BlackRock completes the HPS Investment Partners and Preqin acquisitions, then ends the year with a record $698 billion of net inflows and $14 trillion in AUM.

  30. 2026Berkshire Hathaway

    Abel Becomes CEO and Buffett Becomes Chairman Emeritus

    Abel takes over as CEO on January 1, 2026 and Berkshire completes the $9.7 billion purchase of OxyChem from Occidental on January 2. On September 18, 2026 Buffett is named Chairman Emeritus and remains a director, and his son Howard G.

  31. 2026BlackRock

    AUM passes $15 trillion

    AUM reaches a record $15.3 trillion at June 30, 2026, and a GIP-backed consortium closes the $40 billion acquisition of Aligned Data Centers in July.

Acquisitions

Berkshire Hathaway

  • OxyChem (Occidental Chemical Corporation)2026$9.7B
  • Alleghany Corporation2022$11.6B
  • Precision Castparts Corp.2016$37.2B
  • Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation (BNSF)2010$44B
  • McLane Company2003$1.5B
  • General Re Corporation1998$22B
All Berkshire Hathaway acquisitions

BlackRock

  • Preqin2025$3.2B
  • HPS Investment Partners2025$12B
  • Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP)2024$12.5B
  • Aperio Group2021$1.1B
  • eFront2019$1.3B
  • Barclays Global Investors (BGI) and iShares2009$13.5B
All BlackRock acquisitions

Questions about Berkshire Hathaway vs BlackRock

Who is the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. and BlackRock, Inc.?

Berkshire Hathaway Inc. is led by Greg Abel and BlackRock, Inc. is led by Larry Fink. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.

When was Berkshire Hathaway Inc. founded vs BlackRock, Inc.?

Berkshire Hathaway Inc. was founded in 1839 — 149 years before BlackRock, Inc., which was founded in 1988. Berkshire Hathaway Inc.'s longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger BlackRock, Inc..

How many employees does Berkshire Hathaway Inc. have compared to BlackRock, Inc.?

Berkshire Hathaway Inc. employs approximately 387,800 people, while BlackRock, Inc. employs approximately 24,900. Berkshire Hathaway Inc. has the larger workforce at 387,800 employees, compared to BlackRock, Inc.'s 24,900. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).

Where are Berkshire Hathaway Inc. and BlackRock, Inc. headquartered?

Both Berkshire Hathaway Inc. and BlackRock, Inc. are headquartered in United States, meaning they operate under the same primary regulatory and tax environment.

Who founded Berkshire Hathaway Inc. and BlackRock, Inc.?

Berkshire Hathaway Inc. was founded by Oliver Chace, Warren Edward Buffett. BlackRock, Inc. was founded by Larry Fink, Robert S. Kapito, Susan Wagner, Barbara Novick, Ben Golub, Hugh Frater, Ralph Schlosstein, Keith Anderson.

Which company has a longer operating history — Berkshire Hathaway Inc. or BlackRock, Inc.?

Berkshire Hathaway Inc. has been operating for approximately 187 years, making it the more established of the two companies. BlackRock, Inc. has been in operation for around 38 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.

Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Berkshire Hathaway vs BlackRock overview

Content is for informational purposes only. Not financial advice. Data sourced from SEC filings, annual reports, and public records. See our full disclaimer and methodology.