Accumulated other comprehensive income (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Schedule of accumulated other comprehensive income

A summary of the net changes in after-tax accumulated comprehensive income attributable to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders’ for each of the three years ending December 31, 2012 follows (in millions).

	Unrealized appreciation of investments			Foreign currency translation			Prior service and actuarial gains/losses of defined benefit plans			Other			Accumulated other comprehensive income
Balance at December 31, 2009	$	18,785		$	(30	)	$	(824	)	$	(138	)	$	17,793
Other comprehensive income (loss)		2,838			(193	)		(51	)		195			2,789
Transactions with noncontrolling interests		15			(17	)		22			(19	)		1
Balance at December 31, 2010		21,638			(240	)		(853	)		38			20,583
Other comprehensive income (loss)		(2,144	)		(144	)		(720	)		3			(3,005	)
Transactions with noncontrolling interests		132			1			(16	)		(41	)		76
Balance at December 31, 2011		19,626			(383	)		(1,589	)		—			17,654
Other comprehensive income (loss)		9,647			267			(21	)		(47	)		9,846
Transactions with noncontrolling interests		(19	)		(4	)		9			14			—
Balance at December 31, 2012	$	29,254		$	(120	)	$	(1,601	)	$	(33	)	$	27,500