Consolidated Statements of Earnings - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Revenues:
Investment gains/losses		$ 1,850	$ 97
Total revenues		52,403	48,644
Costs and expenses:
Total costs and expenses		45,947	40,997
Earnings before income taxes		6,456	7,647
Income tax expense		799	2,414
Net earnings		5,657	5,233
Less: Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests		68	69
Net earnings attributable to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders		$ 5,589	$ 5,164
Class A [Member]
Net earnings per share attributable to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders:
Net earnings per share attributable to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders	[1]	$ 3,401	$ 3,143
Average equivalent Class A Shares outstanding	[1]	1,643,487	1,642,951
Insurance and Other [Member]
Revenues:
Insurance premiums earned		$ 11,124	$ 9,540
Sales and service revenues		28,279	24,941
Interest, dividend and other investment income		1,391	1,303
Investment gains/losses		1,846	96
Total revenues		42,640	35,880
Costs and expenses:
Insurance losses and loss adjustment expenses		7,532	6,001
Life, annuity and health insurance benefits		1,167	1,180
Insurance underwriting expenses		2,077	1,612
Cost of sales and services		22,796	20,259
Selling, general and administrative expenses		3,722	3,078
Interest expense		387	144
Total costs and expenses		37,681	32,274
Railroad, Utilities and Energy [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues		8,845	9,891
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales and operating expenses		6,319	6,968
Interest expense		685	632
Total costs and expenses		7,004	7,600
Finance and Financial Products [Member]
Revenues:
Sales and service revenues		1,392	1,222
Interest, dividend and other investment income		332	332
Investment gains/losses		4	1
Derivative gains/losses		(810)	1,318
Total revenues		918	2,873
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales and services		768	659
Selling, general and administrative expenses		393	365
Interest expense		101	99
Total costs and expenses		$ 1,262	$ 1,123

[1] Average shares outstanding and net earnings per share are shown on an equivalent Class A common stock basis. Equivalent Class B shares outstanding are 1,500 times the equivalent Class A amount. Net earnings per equivalent Class B share outstanding are one-fifteen-hundredth (1/1,500) of the equivalent Class A amount.