Consolidated Statements of Earnings - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2021
Revenues:
Leasing revenues		$ 1,959	$ 1,565	$ 5,518	$ 4,336
Total revenues		76,934	70,583	223,924	204,296
Investment and derivative contract gains (losses)		(13,465)	4,921	(82,362)	38,015
Costs and expenses:
Total costs and expenses		68,027	63,397	195,397	180,353
Earnings (loss) before income taxes and equity method earnings		(4,558)	12,107	(53,835)	61,958
Equity method earnings		441	377	1,048	775
Earnings (loss) before income taxes		(4,117)	12,484	(52,787)	62,733
Income tax expense (benefit)		(1,529)	1,840	(12,408)	11,824
Net earnings (loss)		(2,588)	10,644	(40,379)	50,909
Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests		100	300	604	760
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders		$ (2,688)	$ 10,344	$ (40,983)	$ 50,149
Equivalent Class A [Member]
Earnings per share:
Net earnings (loss) per average equivalent		$ (1,832)	$ 6,882	$ (27,866)	$ 33,025
Average equivalent shares outstanding		1,466,946	1,503,013	1,470,714	1,518,513
Equivalent Class B [Member]
Earnings per share:
Net earnings (loss) per average equivalent	[1]	$ (1.22)	$ 4.59	$ (18.58)	$ 22.02
Average equivalent shares outstanding		2,200,419,462	2,254,518,838	2,206,070,294	2,277,769,582
Insurance and Other [Member]
Revenues:
Insurance premiums earned		$ 18,810	$ 17,727	$ 54,389	$ 51,314
Sales and service revenues		39,597	36,722	117,679	107,163
Leasing revenues		1,959	1,565	5,518	4,336
Interest, dividend and other investment income		2,378	1,795	7,101	5,544
Total revenues		62,744	57,809	184,687	168,357
Costs and expenses:
Insurance losses and loss adjustment expenses		16,005	13,939	42,957	37,078
Life, annuity and health insurance benefits		1,450	1,568	4,055	4,507
Insurance underwriting expenses		2,506	3,239	7,734	9,318
Cost of sales and services		31,292	28,984	92,710	84,275
Cost of leasing		1,418	1,116	4,148	2,980
Selling, general and administrative expenses		4,068	4,889	12,081	13,844
Interest expense		297	286	863	860
Total costs and expenses		57,036	54,021	164,548	152,862
Railroad, Utilities and Energy [Member]
Revenues:
Freight rail transportation revenues		6,663	5,761	19,219	16,917
Energy operating revenues		6,090	5,225	15,843	14,375
Service revenues and other income		1,437	1,788	4,175	4,647
Total revenues		14,190	12,774	39,237	35,939
Costs and expenses:
Freight rail transportation expenses		4,581	3,527	12,766	10,625
Utilities and energy cost of sales and other expenses		4,295	3,497	11,730	10,306
Other expenses		1,320	1,582	4,003	4,238
Interest expense		795	770	2,350	2,322
Total costs and expenses		$ 10,991	$ 9,376	$ 30,849	$ 27,491

[1] Class B shares are economically equivalent to one-fifteen-hundredth of a Class A share. Accordingly, net earnings (loss) per average equivalent Class B share outstanding is equal to one-fifteen-hundredth of the equivalent Class A amount. See Note 17.