(BRK.A), (BRK.B)
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. has moved into the No. 1 position in AM Best’s ranking of the world’s 25 largest insurance companies by nonbanking assets, surpassing Allianz SE. Berkshire Hathaway reported nonbanking assets of $1.15 trillion, marking a significant milestone in the latest global insurance industry standings.
The rankings were released in the January 2026 issue of Best’s Review and are based on AM Best’s BestLink data and additional research. Allianz SE, which held the top position for five consecutive years, slipped to No. 2 despite growing its nonbanking assets by 6.2% to $1.09 trillion.
The remainder of the top five insurers by nonbanking assets remained unchanged, with China Life Insurance (Group) Co., Ping An Insurance (Group) Co. of China Ltd., and Prudential Financial Inc. ranking third through fifth, respectively. Several major Chinese insurers continued to post asset growth, though gains were partially offset by a weaker yuan against the U.S. dollar.
While Berkshire Hathaway led by assets, UnitedHealth Group Inc. continued its dominance by net premiums written (NPW), holding the top spot for the 11th straight year. UnitedHealth grew NPW by 6.2% in 2024 to $308.8 billion. Berkshire Hathaway ranked ninth globally by NPW, reflecting its diversified insurance operations across property, casualty, and specialty lines.
Berkshire Hathaway’s rise to the top of AM Best’s asset-based ranking underscores the company’s scale, financial strength, and long-term growth strategy, further cementing its position as a global leader in the insurance industry.
© 2026 David Mazor
Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.