EXHIBIT 12

BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY INC.
Calculation of Ratio of Consolidated Earnings to Consolidated Fixed Charges
(Dollars in millions)

	Year Ended December 31,
	2008			2007		2006		2005			2004
Net earnings	$	4,994		$	13,213	$	11,015	$	8,528		$	7,308
Income tax expense		1,978			6,594		5,505		4,159			3,569
Minority interests in earnings		602			354		258		104			59
Equity in earnings of MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company		—			—		—		(523	)		(237	)
Fixed charges*		2,276			2,202		1,979		867			875
Earnings available for fixed charges	$	9,850		$	22,363	$	18,757	$	13,135		$	11,574
Investment and derivative gains/losses, pretax, included in earnings available for fixed charges	$	(7,461	)	$	5,509	$	2,635	$	5,408		$	3,471
Fixed charges*
Interest on indebtedness (including amortization of debt discount and expense)	$	1,963		$	1,910	$	1,724	$	723		$	721
Rentals representing interest and other		313			292		255		144			154
	$	2,276		$	2,202	$	1,979	$	867		$	875
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges*		4.33x			10.16x		9.48x		15.15x			13.23x
Ratio of earnings, excluding investment and derivative gains/losses, to fixed charges*		7.61x			7.65x		8.15x		8.91x			9.26x

* Includes fixed charges of finance and financial products and utilities and energy businesses as follows:

	2008		2007		2006		2005		2004
Finance and financial products	$	661	$	608	$	571	$	598	$	602
Utilities and energy		1,272		1,265		1,070		—		—

     Excluding fixed charges of finance and financial products and utilities and energy businesses the ratios of earnings to fixed charges were as follows:

	2008		2007		2006		2005		2004
Including investment and derivative gains/losses		23.08x		62.28x		50.64x		46.61x		40.19x
Excluding investment and derivative gains/losses		44.83x		45.53x		42.84x		26.50x		27.48x