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Notes payable and other borrowings - Narrative (Detail)
€ in Millions, £ in Millions, $ in Millions, ¥ in Billions
1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2024
USD ($)
Apr. 30, 2024
JPY (¥)
Mar. 31, 2024
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2023
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2024
JPY (¥)
Mar. 31, 2024
EUR (€)
Mar. 31, 2024
GBP (£)
Dec. 31, 2023
USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Notes payable and other borrowings         ¥ 1,259.0 € 5,850 £ 1,750  
Line of Credit and Commercial Paper Facilities [Member] | Subsidiaries [Member]                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Unused lines of credit available     $ 9,900          
Line of Credit and Commercial Paper Facilities [Member] | Subsidiaries [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy and Subsidiaries [Member]                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Unused lines of credit available     8,700          
Insurance and Other [Member]                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Notes payable and other borrowings     40,723         $ 42,692
Insurance and Other [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Parent) [Member] | Subsidiaries Excluding Berkshire Hathaway Finance Corporation [Member]                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Guarantee obligation     $ 2,700          
Insurance and Other [Member] | Subsidiaries [Member]                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Weighted average interest rate, percentage     4.50%   4.50% 4.50% 4.50%  
Notes payable and other borrowings     $ 4,649         4,696
Insurance and Other [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Parent) [Member]                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Repayments of borrowings     1,100          
Insurance and Other [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Parent) [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Finance Corporation [Member]                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Gains (loss) attributable to changes in foreign currency exchange rates     $ 781 $ (26)        
Insurance and Other [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Debt Due 2027 to 2054 [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Parent) [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Principal amount of debt issued $ 1,700 ¥ 263.3            
Insurance and Other [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Subsidiaries [Member]                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Debt maturity year     2024          
Insurance and Other [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Debt Due 2027 to 2054 [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Parent) [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Interest rate during period 0.974% 0.974%            
Debt maturity year 2027 2027            
Insurance and Other [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Subsidiaries [Member]                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Debt maturity year     2051          
Insurance and Other [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Debt Due 2027 to 2054 [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Parent) [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Interest rate during period 2.498% 2.498%            
Debt maturity year 2054 2054            
Railroad, Utilities and Energy [Member]                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Notes payable and other borrowings     $ 82,031         85,579
Railroad, Utilities and Energy [Member] | Subsidiaries [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy ("BHE") [Member]                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Weighted average interest rate, percentage     4.40%   4.40% 4.40% 4.40%  
Railroad, Utilities and Energy [Member] | Subsidiaries [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy Subsidiaries [Member]                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Weighted average interest rate, percentage     4.60%   4.60% 4.60% 4.60%  
Notes payable and other borrowings     $ 43,924         39,072
Railroad, Utilities and Energy [Member] | Subsidiaries [Member] | Pilot Travel Centers And Subsidiaries [Member]                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Proceeds from borrowings     $ 5,700          
Weighted average interest rate, percentage     0.00%   0.00% 0.00% 0.00%  
Notes payable and other borrowings               $ 5,776
Railroad, Utilities and Energy [Member] | Term Debt [Member] | Subsidiaries [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy and Subsidiaries [Member]                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Repayments of short-term borrowings     $ 2,600          
Railroad, Utilities and Energy [Member] | Term Debt [Member] | Subsidiaries [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy Subsidiaries [Member]                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Principal amount of debt issued     $ 5,100          
Weighted average interest rate, percentage     5.40%   5.40% 5.40% 5.40%  
Railroad, Utilities and Energy [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Subsidiaries [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy ("BHE") [Member]                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Debt maturity year     2025          
Railroad, Utilities and Energy [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Subsidiaries [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy Subsidiaries [Member]                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Debt maturity year     2024          
Railroad, Utilities and Energy [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Term Debt [Member] | Subsidiaries [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy Subsidiaries [Member]                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Debt maturity year     2029          
Railroad, Utilities and Energy [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Subsidiaries [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy ("BHE") [Member]                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Debt maturity year     2053          
Railroad, Utilities and Energy [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Subsidiaries [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy Subsidiaries [Member]                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Debt maturity year     2064          
Railroad, Utilities and Energy [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Term Debt [Member] | Subsidiaries [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy Subsidiaries [Member]                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Debt maturity year     2055