-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 AoU2AuRwqnTA8WCNHBhjqHzXwQ9VgxaeAT2zq4M4fHgOn99v2iKfEBHD2f4aWob/
 D+JFQ356T/NKL3nQQ4+Jtw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001133224-03-000035.txt : 20030820
<SEC-HEADER>0001133224-03-000035.hdr.sgml : 20030820
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030820150235
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001133224-03-000035
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030818
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030820

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001067983
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	FIRE, MARINE & CASUALTY INSURANCE [6331]
		IRS NUMBER:				470813844
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1440 KIEWIT PLZ
		CITY:			OMAHA
		STATE:			NE
		ZIP:			68131
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4023461400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1440 KIEWIT PLAZA
		CITY:			OMAHA
		STATE:			NE
		ZIP:			68131

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	NBH INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19980810

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CHACE MALCOLM G
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001133224
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			RI
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14905
		FILM NUMBER:		03857935

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE TURKS HEAD PLACE
		CITY:			PROVIDENCE
		STATE:			RI
		ZIP:			02903
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4014565000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE PROVIDENCE WASHINGTON PLZ
		STREET 2:		4TH FL
		CITY:			PROVIDENCE
		STATE:			RI
		ZIP:			02903
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-08-18</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001067983</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BRK</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001133224</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CHACE MALCOLM G</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE PROVIDENCE WASHINGTON PLZ</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>4TH FL</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PROVIDENCE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>RI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02903</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-08-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1703</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The reporting person beneficially owns 1,703 shares of the issuer's Class A Common Stock of which (i) 211 shares are held directly by the reporting person, (ii) 2 shares are held by a trust of which the reporting person is trustee and sole beneficiary, (iii) 97 shares are held by a trust of which the reporting person's spouse is trustee and the reporting person is a beneficiary, (iv) 54 shares are held by the reporting person's spouse, (v) 630 shares are held by a trust of which a member of the reporting person's immediate family is trustee and the reporting person is a beneficiary, (vi) 500 shares are held by a trust of which the reporting person is co-trustee and a beneficiary and (vii) 209 shares are held by a limited partnership of which the reporting person is a limited partner.  Previous forms incorrectly reported 10 shares held by a non-profit corporation of which the reporting person is a director and president, but in which the reporting person has no beneficial interest.</
footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Margaret D. Farrell (Attorney-in-Fact)</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-08-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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