You’ve probably seen a BNSF Railway train. They are massive. They haul coal, grain, and iPads. Berkshire bought the whole thing in 2010 for $44 billion. It was Buffett’s biggest bet. He said it was an “all-in wager on the future of the U.S.” And it works. BNSF is one of Berkshire’s most profitable units. It’s a giant, slow-moving money machine.
Imagine this: Every time you eat a piece of bread, a BNSF train probably hauled the wheat. They move 25% of all freight in the western U.S. That’s a lot of toast.
The Tools You Borrow
Need a hammer? Go to Lowe’s. But if you need a specific tool? You might go to Precision Castparts. That company makes metal parts for jet engines. It’s not sexy. But it’s essential. Berkshire owns them.
The Berkshire Hathaway Story: How Warren Buffett Built a Financial Empire
And if you’re building a house? You’re using Shaw Industries carpet. Or Johns Manville insulation. They’re both Berkshire. Your house is basically built by Warren Buffett.
