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Business segment data - Earnings (loss) before income taxes (Detail) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2022
Dec. 31, 2021
Dec. 31, 2020
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Investment and derivative gains (losses) $ (67,899) $ 78,542 $ 40,746
Interest expense (4,352) (4,172) (4,083)
Equity method investments 1,863 886 657
Goodwill and intangible asset impairments     10,671
Earnings (loss) before income taxes (30,576) 111,686 55,693
Operating Businesses [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from operating businesses 34,699 32,291 27,016
Interest expense (3,946) (3,828) (3,776)
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from operating businesses 7,626 6,585 6,787
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] | Insurance Premiums Earned [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from operating businesses (98) 936 838
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] | Interest, Dividend and Other Investment Income [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from operating businesses 7,724 5,649 5,949
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] | GEICO [Member] | Insurance Premiums Earned [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from operating businesses (1,880) 1,259 3,428
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group [Member] | Insurance Premiums Earned [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from operating businesses 1,389 (930) (2,700)
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Primary Group [Member] | Insurance Premiums Earned [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from operating businesses 393 607 110
Operating Businesses [Member] | BNSF [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from operating businesses 7,708 7,861 6,792
Interest expense (1,025) (1,032) (1,037)
Operating Businesses [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from operating businesses 3,146 3,293 2,548
Interest expense (2,140) (2,054) (1,941)
Operating Businesses [Member] | Manufacturing Businesses [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from operating businesses 11,177 9,841 8,010
Interest expense (739) (704) (737)
Operating Businesses [Member] | McLane [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from operating businesses 271 230 251
Operating Businesses [Member] | Service and Retailing [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from operating businesses 4,771 4,481 2,628
Interest expense (42) (38) (61)
Segment Reconciling Items [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Investment and derivative gains (losses) (67,899) 78,542 40,746
Interest expense (420) (455) (483)
Equity method investments 1,863 886 657
Goodwill and intangible asset impairments     (10,671)
Corporate, Eliminations and Other [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from operating businesses 1,181 422 (1,572)
Interest expense $ 14 $ 111 $ 176