Consolidated Statements of Earnings - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Revenues:
Investment gains/losses		$ 362	$ 2,366	$ 459	$ 3,497
Total revenues		51,368	49,762	100,012	95,215
Costs and expenses:
Total costs and expenses		45,522	40,846	86,519	79,701
Earnings before income taxes		5,846	8,916	13,493	15,514
Income tax expense		1,739	2,458	4,153	4,283
Net earnings		4,107	6,458	9,340	11,231
Less: Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests		94	63	163	131
Net earnings attributable to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders		$ 4,013	$ 6,395	$ 9,177	$ 11,100
Average common shares outstanding	[1]	1,643,084	1,644,370	1,643,018	1,644,215
Class A [Member]
Net earnings per share attributable to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders:
Net earnings per share attributable to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders	[1]	$ 2,442	$ 3,889	$ 5,585	$ 6,751
Insurance and Other [Member]
Revenues:
Insurance premiums earned		$ 10,400	$ 9,323	$ 19,940	$ 18,739
Sales and service revenues		27,792	24,846	52,733	47,174
Interest, dividend and other investment income		1,323	1,583	2,626	2,738
Investment gains/losses		136	2,366	232	3,425
Total revenues		39,651	38,118	75,531	72,076
Costs and expenses:
Insurance losses and loss adjustment expenses		6,692	5,542	12,693	11,132
Life, annuity and health insurance benefits		1,738	1,279	2,918	2,489
Insurance underwriting expenses		2,018	1,864	3,630	3,765
Cost of sales and services		22,589	20,063	42,848	38,200
Selling, general and administrative expenses		3,378	2,966	6,456	5,854
Interest expense		217	116	361	214
Total costs and expenses		36,632	31,830	68,906	61,654
Railroad, Utilities and Energy [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues		9,866	9,846	19,757	19,599
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales and operating expenses		6,999	7,193	13,967	14,574
Interest expense		653	591	1,285	1,156
Total costs and expenses		7,652	7,784	15,252	15,730
Finance and Financial Products [Member]
Revenues:
Sales and service revenues		1,383	1,314	2,605	2,410
Interest, dividend and other investment income		416	329	748	667
Investment gains/losses		226		227	72
Derivative gains/losses		(174)	155	1,144	391
Total revenues		1,851	1,798	4,724	3,540
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales and services		739	692	1,398	1,281
Selling, general and administrative expenses		402	423	767	800
Interest expense		97	117	196	236
Total costs and expenses		$ 1,238	$ 1,232	$ 2,361	$ 2,317

[1] Average shares outstanding include average Class A common shares and average Class B common shares determined on an equivalent Class A common stock basis. Net earnings per common share attributable to Berkshire Hathaway shown above represents net earnings per equivalent Class A common share. Net earnings per Class B common share is equal to one-fifteen-hundredth (1/1,500) of such amount.