GEICO (Government Employees Insurance Company) is the third-largest auto insurer in the U.S., headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, and a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, covering over 24 million vehicles. Founded in 1936 by Leo Goodwin Sr. and his wife Lillian, it was a private company that originally sold insurance exclusively to federal government employees, despite its misleading name. A pivotal moment came in 1948 when Benjamin Graham's investment partnership acquired a 50% stake, and in 1951, a young Warren Buffett famously championed the stock, which grew nearly 50-fold in market value by 1958. After expanding to the general public in 1974, GEICO nearly collapsed during the 1973–75 recession, reporting a $126.5 million loss in 1975 before being rescued by a consortium of insurers. Today, it sells policies directly via phone and online, and is widely recognized for its advertising, featuring a Cockney-accented gecko mascot voiced by actor Jake Wood.