Investments in H.J. Heinz Holding Corporation - Narrative (Detail) (Heinz Holding [Member], USD $) In Billions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified		0 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	0 Months Ended		0 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014 3G Capital (venture partner) [Member]	Jun. 07, 2013 Common Stock [Member] 3G Capital (venture partner) [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Heinz [Member] Stock Options [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Heinz [Member] 3G Capital (venture partner) [Member]	Jun. 07, 2013 Heinz [Member] Common Stock [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Berkshire Hathaway (Parent) [Member]	Jun. 07, 2013 Berkshire Hathaway (Parent) [Member] Common Stock [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Berkshire Hathaway (Parent) [Member] Warrants Expiring June 7, 2018 [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Berkshire Hathaway (Parent) [Member] Cumulative Compounding Preferred Stock [Member]	Jun. 07, 2013 Berkshire Hathaway (Parent) [Member] Common Stock, Cumulative Compounding Preferred Stock and Warrants [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Berkshire Hathaway (Parent) [Member] Heinz [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Aggregate cash paid for acquiree's equity securities		$ 4.25			$ 23.25
Investment, number of shares purchased		425,000,000					425,000,000
Number of common shares that can be purchased								46,000,000
Investment in preferred stock, liquidation value									8.0
Purchase of preferred stock, common stock and warrants										$ 12.25
Common shares reserved for issuance under options			39,600,000
Investment in preferred stock, stated dividend rate									9.00%
Exercise price for warrants, per share								$ 0.01
Equity method investment ownership percentage	50.00%					50.00%
Minimum percentage of initial common stock investment required to be held to maintain approval rights over significant transactions and governance				66.00%							66.00%