Consolidated Statements of Earnings - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022
Revenues:
Leasing revenues		$ 2,104	$ 1,959	$ 6,227	$ 5,518
Total revenues		93,210	76,904	271,106	223,948
Investment and derivative contract gains (losses)		(29,778)	(13,465)	38,041	(82,362)
Costs and expenses:
Total costs and expenses		80,653	68,112	237,380	195,153
Earnings (loss) before income taxes and equity method earnings		(17,221)	(4,673)	71,767	(53,567)
Equity method earnings		262	415	1,461	958
Earnings (loss) before income taxes		(16,959)	(4,258)	73,228	(52,609)
Income tax expense (benefit)		(4,392)	(1,560)	13,839	(12,374)
Net earnings (loss)		(12,567)	(2,698)	59,389	(40,235)
Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests		200	100	740	604
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders		$ (12,767)	$ (2,798)	$ 58,649	$ (40,839)
Equivalent Class A [Member]
Earnings per share:
Net earnings (loss) per average equivalent		$ (8,824)	$ (1,907)	$ 40,422	$ (27,768)
Average equivalent shares outstanding		1,446,925	1,466,946	1,450,934	1,470,714
Equivalent Class B [Member]
Earnings per share:
Net earnings (loss) per average equivalent	[1]	$ (5.88)	$ (1.27)	$ 26.95	$ (18.51)
Average equivalent shares outstanding		2,170,387,690	2,200,419,462	2,176,400,554	2,206,070,294
Insurance and Other [Member]
Revenues:
Insurance premiums earned		$ 21,360	$ 18,754	$ 61,717	$ 54,323
Sales and service revenues		39,456	39,597	116,970	117,679
Leasing revenues		2,104	1,959	6,227	5,518
Interest, dividend and other investment income		4,047	2,378	11,122	7,101
Total revenues		66,967	62,688	196,036	184,621
Costs and expenses:
Insurance losses and loss adjustment expenses		13,719	16,005	42,029	42,957
Life, annuity and health insurance benefits		1,144	1,428	3,057	3,951
Insurance underwriting expenses		3,496	2,613	10,812	7,594
Cost of sales and services		31,049	31,292	91,989	92,710
Cost of leasing		1,489	1,418	4,423	4,148
Selling, general and administrative expenses		5,120	4,068	15,727	12,081
Interest expense		311	297	953	863
Total costs and expenses		56,328	57,121	168,990	164,304
Railroad, Utilities and Energy [Member]
Revenues:
Freight rail transportation revenues		5,828	6,663	17,637	19,219
Utility and energy operating revenues		19,033	6,090	53,543	15,843
Service revenues and other income		1,382	1,463	3,890	4,265
Total revenues		26,243	14,216	75,070	39,327
Costs and expenses:
Freight rail transportation expenses		4,038	4,581	12,213	12,766
Utilities and energy cost of sales and other expenses		18,249	4,295	50,254	11,730
Other expenses		1,089	1,320	3,149	4,003
Interest expense		949	795	2,774	2,350
Total costs and expenses		$ 24,325	$ 10,991	$ 68,390	$ 30,849

[1] Net earnings per average equivalent Class B share outstanding are equal to one-fifteen-hundredth of the equivalent Class A amount. See Note 19.