Common stock (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2024

Equity [Abstract]

Changes in issued, treasury and outstanding Berkshire common stock

Changes in Berkshire’s issued, treasury and outstanding common stock during the first quarter of 2024 are shown in the table below. In addition to our common stock, 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock are authorized, but none are issued.

	Class A, $5 Par Value (1,650,000 shares authorized)									Class B, $0.0033 Par Value (3,225,000,000 shares authorized)
	Issued			Treasury			Outstanding			Issued		Treasury			Outstanding
Balance at December 31, 2023		639,328			(71,553	)		567,775			1,528,152,352		(217,590,844	)		1,310,561,508
Conversions of Class A to    Class B common stock		(400	)		—			(400	)		600,000		—			600,000
Treasury stock acquired		—			(4,232	)		(4,232	)		—		—			—
Balance at March 31, 2024		638,928			(75,785	)		563,143			1,528,752,352		(217,590,844	)		1,311,161,508