Consolidated Statements of Earnings - USD ($) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Revenues:
Leasing revenues		$ 7,514	$ 5,988	$ 5,209
Total revenues		302,089	276,203	245,579
Investment and derivative contract gains (losses)		(67,899)	78,542	40,746
Costs and expenses:
Goodwill and intangible asset impairments				10,671
Interest expense		4,352	4,172	4,083
Total costs and expenses		266,629	243,945	231,289
Earnings (loss) before income taxes and equity method earnings		(32,439)	110,800	55,036
Equity method earnings		1,863	886	657
Earnings (loss) before income taxes		(30,576)	111,686	55,693
Income tax expense (benefit)		(8,518)	20,879	12,440
Net earnings (loss)		(22,058)	90,807	43,253
Earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests		761	1,012	732
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders		$ (22,819)	$ 89,795	$ 42,521
Equivalent Class A [Member]
Earnings per share:
Net earnings (loss) per average equivalent		$ (15,535)	$ 59,460	$ 26,668
Average equivalent shares outstanding		1,468,876	1,510,180	1,594,469
Equivalent Class B [Member]
Earnings per share:
Net earnings (loss) per average equivalent	[1]	$ (10.36)	$ 39.64	$ 17.78
Average equivalent shares outstanding		2,203,313,642	2,265,269,867	2,391,703,454
Insurance and Other [Member]
Revenues:
Insurance premiums earned		$ 74,645	$ 69,478	$ 63,401
Sales and service revenues		157,518	145,043	127,044
Leasing revenues		7,514	5,988	5,209
Interest, dividend and other investment income		10,263	7,465	8,092
Total revenues		249,940	227,974	203,746
Costs and expenses:
Insurance losses and loss adjustment expenses		57,646	49,964	43,951
Life, annuity and health insurance benefits		5,152	6,007	5,812
Insurance underwriting expenses		11,942	12,569	12,798
Cost of sales and services		124,319	114,138	101,091
Cost of leasing		5,550	4,201	3,520
Selling, general and administrative expenses		19,506	18,843	19,809
Goodwill and intangible asset impairments				10,671
Interest expense		1,187	1,086	1,105
Total costs and expenses		225,302	206,808	198,757
Railroad, Utilities and Energy [Member]
Revenues:
Freight rail transportation revenues		25,802	23,177	20,750
Energy operating revenues		21,023	18,891	15,540
Service revenues and other income		5,324	6,161	5,543
Total revenues		52,149	48,229	41,833
Costs and expenses:
Expenses		17,282	14,477	13,120
Cost of sales and other expenses		15,896	13,959	11,638
Other expenses		4,984	5,615	4,796
Interest expense		3,165	3,086	2,978
Total costs and expenses		$ 41,327	$ 37,137	$ 32,532

[1] Class B shares are economically equivalent to one-fifteen-hundredth of a Class A share. Accordingly, net earnings per average equivalent Class B share outstanding is equal to one-fifteen-hundredth of the equivalent Class A amount. See Note 21.