It focuses on direct control investments in real estate, renewable power, infrastructure, credit and private equity.

[9] In 1959, Edper Investments, founded by brothers Peter and Edward Bronfman, acquired Brazilian Traction, Light and Power Company for $15 million.

[10] During the 1970s, the company began to sell its Brazilian interests, and invested more heavily in industries such as real estate, timber and mining.

[14] In 2007, Brookfield Asset Management acquired the Multiplex, an Australian international construction contracting company[15] founded in 1962 by John Roberts.

[26] In 2019, Brookfield Asset Management sold its BGIS shares to CCMP Capital Advisors—an American private equity investment firm—for over CAD$1.3 billion[24] with Hicks remaining as CEO.

[28] In August 2018, Brookfield purchased Westinghouse Electric Company, a manufacturer of large nuclear reactors, out of bankruptcy for $4.6 billion.

[32][33][34] In 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Brookfield's CEO Bruce Flatt assessed that the economic fallout was "much more manageable" than previous meltdowns.

[35] In October 2020, Mark Carney, departing Governor of the Bank of England, became a vice-chair of Brookfield, leading the firm's environmental, social and governance (ESG) and impact fund investment strategy.

[43] On 23 September 2024, Brookfield Asset Management announced that it had raised $2.4 billion for its Catalytic Transition Fund (CTF), which is supported by the United Arab Emirates to enhance climate finance in emerging markets.

[44] In October 2024, Brookfield Asset Management outbid Segro to acquire European property company Tritax EuroBox for US$1.44 billion, including debt.

The analysis written by Roddy Boyd accused the company of using a pyramidal control structure, alleging that a small group of shareholders hold outsized power and may easily use the capital of other investors without risking their own.

[52][53] According to the Stanford Law School Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Clearinghouse, which studied the case, the investigation and filing of charges was initiated by a whistleblower and anonymous tip.

[55] In August 2018, Brookfield signed a 99-year lease on the financially troubled 666 Fifth Avenue skyscraper, of Donald Trump's son in law Jared Kushner.

The deal raised suspicions that the Qatar Investment Authority, a major investor in Brookfield, was attempting to influence the Trump administration.

[58] In February 2021, Mark Carney, Vice chairman and Head of Impact Investing and ex Governor of the Bank of England, had to retract an earlier claim that the $600 billion Brookfield Asset Management portfolio was carbon neutral.