XML 30 R87.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.3.0.814
Business segment data (Detail) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2015
Sep. 30, 2014
Sep. 30, 2015
Sep. 30, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Revenues $ 58,989 $ 51,199 $ 159,001 $ 146,414
Total earnings before income taxes 14,072 6,750 27,565 22,264
Operating Businesses [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Revenues 51,625 51,240 150,329 142,574
Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses 6,909 6,896 19,234 18,742
Operating Businesses [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Insurance Group [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Revenues 11,560 13,674 33,928 34,865
Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses 1,688 1,926 4,808 5,722
Operating Businesses [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Insurance Group [Member] | GEICO [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Premiums earned 5,788 5,203 16,792 15,168
Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses 258 264 471 1,010
Operating Businesses [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Insurance Group [Member] | General Re [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Premiums earned 1,405 1,566 4,397 4,733
Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses (2) 126 58 322
Operating Businesses [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Insurance Group [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Premiums earned 1,892 4,809 5,317 8,414
Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses 199 443 247 617
Operating Businesses [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Insurance Group [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Primary Group [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Premiums earned 1,429 1,139 3,948 3,141
Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses 188 143 566 379
Operating Businesses [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Insurance Group [Member] | Investment Income [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Interest, dividend and other investment income 1,046 957 3,474 3,409
Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses 1,045 950 3,466 3,394
Operating Businesses [Member] | BNSF [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Revenues 5,600 5,881 16,571 17,063
Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses 1,839 1,654 5,047 4,295
Operating Businesses [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Revenues 5,144 4,853 14,018 13,344
Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses 1,153 1,051 2,398 2,248
Operating Businesses [Member] | McLane Company [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Revenues 12,264 12,151 36,200 34,327
Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses 106 120 384 361
Operating Businesses [Member] | Manufacturing Businesses [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Revenues 9,181 9,534 27,568 27,788
Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses 1,259 1,337 3,857 3,774
Operating Businesses [Member] | Service and Retailing Businesses [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Revenues 6,151 3,493 16,966 10,456
Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses 378 355 1,260 1,095
Operating Businesses [Member] | Finance and Financial Products Reportable Segment [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Revenues 1,725 1,654 5,078 4,731
Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses 486 453 1,480 1,247
Intersegment Eliminations and Other Reconciling Items [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Investment and derivative gains/losses 7,502 (118) 9,105 3,770
Revenues (138) 77 (433) 70
Interest expense (83) (79) (391) (233)
Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses $ (256) $ 51 $ (383) $ (15)