Consolidated Statements of Earnings - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2023	Mar. 31, 2022
Revenues:
Leasing revenues		$ 2,044	$ 1,672
Total revenues		85,393	70,843
Investment and derivative contract gains (losses)		34,758	(1,978)
Costs and expenses:
Total costs and expenses		76,087	62,247
Earnings before income taxes and equity method earnings		44,064	6,618
Equity method earnings		688	339
Earnings before income taxes		44,752	6,957
Income tax expense		8,995	1,252
Net earnings		35,757	5,705
Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests		253	125
Net earnings attributable to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders		$ 35,504	$ 5,580
Equivalent Class A [Member]
Earnings per share:
Net earnings per average equivalent		$ 24,377	$ 3,784
Average equivalent shares outstanding		1,456,438	1,474,703
Equivalent Class B [Member]
Earnings per share:
Net earnings per average equivalent	[1]	$ 16.25	$ 2.52
Average equivalent shares outstanding		2,184,657,109	2,212,054,009
Insurance and Other [Member]
Revenues:
Insurance premiums earned		$ 19,796	$ 17,488
Sales and service revenues		38,388	37,862
Leasing revenues		2,044	1,672
Interest, dividend and other investment income		3,229	1,862
Total revenues		63,457	58,884
Costs and expenses:
Insurance losses and loss adjustment expenses		14,221	13,332
Life, annuity and health insurance benefits		785	1,337
Insurance underwriting expenses		3,587	2,604
Cost of sales and services		30,319	29,785
Cost of leasing		1,477	1,232
Selling, general and administrative expenses		5,602	4,251
Interest expense		328	264
Total costs and expenses		56,319	52,805
Railroad, Utilities and Energy [Member]
Revenues:
Freight rail transportation revenues		6,001	5,944
Utility and energy operating revenues		14,917	4,818
Service revenues and other income		1,018	1,197
Total revenues		21,936	11,959
Costs and expenses:
Freight rail transportation expenses		4,161	3,925
Utilities and energy cost of sales and other expenses		13,846	3,591
Other expenses		871	1,156
Interest expense		890	770
Total costs and expenses		$ 19,768	$ 9,442

[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 19.